John Lewis names new chief information officer

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Dec 6, 2017

The John Lewis Partnership has named Andrew Murphy as its next Chief Information Officer (CIO). The appointment is an internal one with Murphy currently Group Productivity Director for the company that includes the John Lewis chain as well as Waitrose supermarkets.

He will take up the CIO role on 1 February 2018, replacing Paul Coby who will leave the firm at the end of April after almost seven years.

It’s a crucial role at the company which is not only one of Britain’s highest-profile retailers but also one of its most successful online. The company has advanced its e-sales fast in recent years and they now represent a disproportionately large percentage of its business compared to some department store peers.

Chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield said of Coby’s part in this development: “I want to take this opportunity to thank Paul for his outstanding contribution to our business and the legacy he has left. Paul was the architect of the IT strategy for John Lewis, which helped to transform the business into a leading omnichannel retailer.”

Meanwhile Murphy joined the John Lewis Partnership in 1992 and performed a number of roles. This included MD of John Lewis Aberdeen and Edinburgh. In 2009 he was appointed Director, Operational Development before becoming Retail Director, John Lewis in 2010, and in 2015 - Group Productivity Director, where he has led the change programme.