Patrick Lewis, who leaves in June after 26 years, will receive a payment that exceeds chairman’s annual salary
According to its annual report published today, the John Lewis Partnership is handing Patrick Lewis, the last remaining member of the family in the business, a pay out worth £1.54 million. It is more than the salary paid to Dame Sharon White, the partnership’s chairman. She earned just over £1 million last year despite taking a 20 per cent cut to her base salary for three months amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lewis, who spent more than 26 years at the partnership, stepped down as finance director late last year following a head office shake-up that led to 1500 job cuts. His golden handshake includes payment for loss of office and contributions towards legal fees as well as cash in lieu of salary, car, pension and other benefits for the remainder of his contractual notice period.