One of the longest serving and most successful leaders of a blue-chip company and a highly regarded UK businessman, Sir Stuart Hampson was chairman of the John Lewis Partnership for 14 years until his retirement in March 2007.
A popular and likeable businessman, Sir Stuart joined the partnership in February 1982 following a twelve year career in the Civil Service. After gaining front-line retail experience in a number of department stores, he ran the Partnership's department store in Southampton, Tyrrell & Green (now John Lewis Southampton), as Managing Director for nearly three years.
In 1986 he was appointed to the Partnership's Central Board as Director of Research & Expansion and took charge of the Partnership's development program. He was responsible for the first out-of-town John Lewis department store at High Wycombe (opened October 1988), as well as for new department stores in Aberdeen (October 1989) and Kingston (September 1990) and the relocation of Trewins in Watford (August 1990). The Deputy Chairmanship was added to his Partnership responsibilities in May 1989, and he became the fourth Chairman of the Partnership in 1993.
During his 14 years at the helm of JLP, Sir Stuart led the company on a path of modernization without sacrificing the partnership ethos and principles that were embodied in it’s 1929 constitution. His 14 years as chairman saw steady expansion, the refurbishment of the Oxford Street and Sloane Square department stores, the extension of trading hours, the expansion of product ranges and the establishment of an online presence through John Lewis Direct and Ocado, the home-delivery grocery service.
The partnership's 2006 results, announced shortly before Sir Stuart's departure at the end of March 2007, are a testament to his efforts. Pre-tax profits hit a new high of £319m, up 27 percent on the previous year, and the 68,000 staff -- or "partners" -- shared a bonus of £155m, up 29 percent from 2005 and equivalent to 18 percent of salaries. The fact that John Lewis continues to outperform in the market is a direct result of its partnership structure, says Sir Stuart. "Our success comes from a host of improvements made by 68,000 people who are motivated to deliver outstanding customer service, which translates into profits that feed back to staff", he says. "It's a virtuous circle".
Sir Stuart has taken an active interest in planning policy and in May 1987, as a founding member of the Oxford Retail Group, was closely involved in the debate on town centre/out-of-town development.
The first part of Sir Stuart's career was spent in the Civil Service. He joined the Board of Trade in 1969 and then served for two years in the UK Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.
In 1978 he was appointed Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, Mr. Roy Hattersley, in which post he was particularly concerned with pay, prices and mergers policy. On the change of Government in 1979 he was successively Private Secretary to the Minister for Consumer Affairs (then Mrs. Sally Oppenheim) and the Secretary of State for Trade (then Mr. John Nott) where he focused on general economic policy. Subsequently he served under Mr. John Biffen when he was appointed as Secretary of State in the same department.
A founding deputy chairman of London First and past President of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, he is President of the Employee Ownership Association and continues to champion the benefits of employee engagement in business. Sir Stuart chaired the team tackling Economic Renewal in deprived communities, and he is one of the Prince of Wales's Ambassadors in this area.
Sir Stuart Hampson is Chairman of The Crown Estate which manages a portfolio of over £6 billion, including over 400 commercial properties in London and elsewhere, almost 146,000 hectares of agricultural land, forests, residential and commercial property in England, Scotland and Wales, over half of the UK's foreshore, together with the seabed out to the 12-nautical-mile territorial limit.
As owners, managers and guardians of one of the world's most important and diverse urban, rural and marine property portfolios, The Crown Estate's work is underpinned by the three core values of Commercialism, Integrity and Stewardship.
Sir Stuart Hampson, former chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, is available through IMG Speakers Bureau for speaking engagements. Sir Stuart Hampson is also available for corporate meetings and events, business seminars, panel discussions and much more. Please contact IMG Speakers at 212-774-6735 or speakers@imgworld.com for more information on booking Sir Stuart Hampson.
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