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Our Responsible Business Group members:

Charlie Mayfield Chairman (chair)
Tracey Killen Director of Personnel, and Partnership Board representative for CSR
Nigel Keen Director of Building & Services (chair of Environment Steering Group)
David Jones Divisional Registrar, John Lewis (co-chair of Marketplace Steering Group)
Tony Solomons Retail Director, Waitrose (co-chair of Marketplace Steering Group)
Paul Backhouse Head of Employment Strategy and Policy (chair of Workplace Steering Group)
Susan Donovan Director of Communications (chair of Community Investment Committee)
Gemma Lacey General Manager, CSR
Charlotte Cool Head of Public Affairs


CSR governance

When John Spedan Lewis set up the Partnership, he created a governance system – set out in a Constitution – that would be both competitive and democratic. The terms of our Constitution (available on www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk) clearly define how the business, and individual Partners, are expected to behave towards customers, suppliers, the environment, the wider community and each other. Along with these general provisions, specific CSR governance structures have been developed, so that social, ethical and environmental issues can be managed efficiently and effectively.

As our CSR agenda becomes ever-more established and widespread, we have refreshed our governance arrangements to ensure they provide strategic direction and a sound system of internal control. They also agree CSR policies and programmes, regularly review performance, priorities and positioning, and report and provide assurance to the Partnership Board.

Our new CSR governance structure (see diagram below) contains a recently constituted Responsible Business Group – see panel – led by Chairman Charlie Mayfield, and comprising senior managers from across the business. This management committee replaces our previously separate Waitrose, John Lewis and Partnership CSR committees, to provide a Partnership steer on CSR. Several Partnership-wide steering groups focusing on different aspects of CSR sit under this group.


Risk management

We map and prioritise the risks and opportunities that are important not just to our business but to our other stakeholders as well. Over the last year we have introduced a new process for tracking environmental legislation that ensures clear accountabilities for delivering compliance. We are also refreshing our broader approach to identifying and assessing CSR risks and opportunities throughout the business. Responsibility for tracking and assessing risks, opportunities and legislation lies with the CSR team, supported by our four Steering Groups (see diagram below).


Our CSR governance structure

FIRST LEVEL: PARTNERSHIP BOARD (elected and appointed members) -AND- PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL (elected)

SECOND LEVEL: PARTNERSHIP RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS GROUP Chair: Charlie Mayfield, Chairman

THIRD LEVEL:

OUR CUSTOMERS, PRODUCTS AND SUPPLIERS

MARKETPLACE STEERING GROUP

Chair: Tony Solomons, Waitrose Retail Director, and David Jones, John Lewis Divisional Registrar

Divisional Steering and/or Working Groups

-AND-

OUR PEOPLE

WORKPLACE STEERING GROUP

Chair: Paul Backhouse, Head of Employment Strategy and Policy

Employment Working Groups

-AND-

OUR COMMUNITIES

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT COMMITTEE

Chair: Susan Donovan, Partnership Director of Communications

Divisional Community Investment Committees

-AND-

OUR ENVIRONMENT

ENVIRONMENT STEERING GROUP

Chair: Nigel Keen, Director of Building & Services

Divisional Steering and/or Working Groups (eg Transport, Sustainable Construction)