John Lewis’s managing director Andy Street is to join the Department for Communities and Local Government as lead non-executive director.
Andy Street will replace Sara Weller when she steps down at the end of the year to continue her role as independent chair of the planning inspectorate.
Street has been managing director of John Lewis since 2007 and is also chair of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, the body tasked with driving economic growth in the region.
Communities secretary Greg Clark said his appointment would be “invaluable” for driving forward the department’s devolution, housing and local economic growth priorities.
Street said: “The role of government and this department in particular is changing in many ways from the implications of devolution to the need to partner with business and communities across the country.
“I hope my experience will be valuable to the department as it navigates these exciting challenges under Greg Clark’s leadership.”
