John Lewis appoints new online director, while CollectPlus announces new chief executive

Mark Lewis, previously chief executive of CollectPlus , is to be John Lewis’ new online director, the department store group announced today. He will be replaced at CollectPlus by Neil Ashworth, previously of Tesco Direct .

Mark Lewis joins the department store group on March 4, in a role that will see him lead the online team and become responsible for the development and profitability of its online channel as well as the omnichannel development team. He will also join the John Lewis Management Board.


Andy Street, managing director at John Lewis, said: 

”Mark is ideally placed to continue the growth and development of our online business.

“He brings insight and experience of the retail sector, and will be driving further innovation across both our website and omnichannel offer. We are all keen to welcome him when he joins in March.”

Mark Lewis said:

 “I’m delighted and honoured to be joining John Lewis. In the rapidly changing retail environment I believe the John Lewis proposition and partnership model provide genuine and enduring advantages and I look forward to playing a part in writing the next chapter of the business.”

Lewis spent six years at eBay before joining convenience store-based delivery network Collect+. At eBay his roles included UK managing director and European marketplaces director. At Collect+ he oversaw the expansion of the convenience st0re-based delivery network to the point where it currently includes more than 5,000 stores.

John Lewis is known as a leading UK multichannel retailer, for whom innovative delivery has been key. It has, from example, pioneered Click and Collect between its two brands, enabling shoppers to pick up their John Lewis orders from branches of Waitrose. The arrival of Mark Lewis suggests that delivery methods will remain key to omnichannel development at the store.

Meanwhile, Tesco veteran Neil Ashworth will be joining CollectPlus as the new chief executive on February 11.

Ashworth’s career has included senior logistics and consumer roles at Woolworths and Tesco, where he was instrumental in launching Tesco Direct, including its Click and Collect service.

“In today’s hard-pressed multi-channel environment,” said Ashworth, “with customers expecting a seamless purchase, delivery and returns service from their retailer, successful brands recognise the importance of offering their customers a complete shopping experience, with alternative delivery and collection options designed to match their customers’ differing lifestyles.

“CollectPlus has enabled both on and offline retailers – and the logistics industry – to rethink their delivery and returns strategies to meet the increasing demands of their customers. CollectPlus has set the standard that others aspire to and I am looking forward to the exciting prospect of working with the CollectPlus team to further develop the breadth and reach of the CollectPlus service.”

CollectPlus is a joint venture between payment network PayPoint and delivery company Yodel.