James Bailey, managing director at Waitrose, will step down from his position in September, the John Lewis Partnership has announced.

Bailey joined Waitrose in 2020, with the supermarket highlighting that he had “steered the business through the pandemic and the cost of living ‘crisis'”.

Retail director Tina Mitchell will take up the role of managing director when Bailey leaves on 30th September 2025.

James Bailey, managing director of Waitrose, said: “It’s been a great privilege to lead this unique and special business and most especially to get to know all the Partners who make it what it is. I’m very proud of everything we’ve achieved together; it’s been a lot of hard work but very rewarding and I’m so happy now to see the business thriving.  

“Waitrose is back on a very strong footing with record customer numbers, strong sales growth and a turnaround in profitability so after five and a half years this feels like the right time to hand over the reins. I feel confident that we’ve laid the foundations for long term success and have the opportunity now to go from strength to strength.”

Jason Tarry, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said: “James has done an outstanding job, overseeing significant transformation and growth during a period of change. He’s a great colleague and has been a highly valued member of the executive team.

“We will be sad to see James go but understand and respect his decision to step down after five and a half years at the helm. James will leave Waitrose in a much stronger position and I know will be missed by everyone.

“I’m grateful that James has agreed to continue in the role through to the end of September, and that Tina Mitchell, retail director for Waitrose, has agreed to step up to be interim managing director once James leaves.”

Waitrose stated that it would work through a process to find Bailey’s successor, and will provide an update in due course.