Paula Nickolds

Paula Margaret Nickolds (born February 1973) is a British businesswoman. From January 2017 until January 2020, she was the managing director of the John Lewis department store chain.[1]

Paula Nickolds
Born
Paula Margaret Nickolds

February 1973 (age 50)
NationalityBritish
EducationUniversity of Southampton
OccupationBusinesswoman
TitleFormer managing director, John Lewis
TermJanuary 2017-January 2020
PredecessorAndy Street
SuccessorPippa Wicks

Early life

Nickolds was born in February 1973.[2] Her father, Clive Nickolds, was a senior director at Marks & Spencer, and head of its international operations.[1] She earned a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Southampton,[1] and attended St Helen's School where she spent hours in the pool as a keen member of the swimming team.[3]

Career

In 1994, Nickolds joined John Lewis as a graduate trainee at their Oxford Street flagship store.[1] In January 2017, she succeeded Andy Street as managing director of John Lewis; she thereby became the first woman to hold this position in the company's 153-year history.[1]

She unexpectedly left the company in January 2020, along with two of John Lewis' most senior, long serving executives, just as it looked to navigate a radical overhaul to merge its grocery and department store businesses.[4]

In May 2021, it was announced that she has been appointed by Sainsbury's to run its £7.8bn clothing and general merchandise arm, putting her head-to-head with her former employer John Lewis.[5]

References
  1. Butler, Sarah (25 October 2016). "Paula Nickolds: John Lewis lifer who was destined for retail success" – via The Guardian.
  2. "Paula Margaret NICKOLDS - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)".
  3. "Who Is Paula Nickolds, John Lewis's First Female MD?". British Vogue. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  4. "John Lewis left reeling by shock exit of 'golden girl' Paula Nickolds". The Times.
  5. "John Lewis nightmare: boss resurfaces at rival Sainsbury's". Miscrosoft News.
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