The Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, Sir Stuart Hampson, will stand down after 14 years at the helm of the retailer. Hampson will be replaced by Charlie Mayfield, who is currently Managing Director of the department stores.
Debenhams has revealed a further fall in underlying sales in recent weeks. Chairman John Lovering told shareholders attending the company's annual meeting that trading remains "difficult".
Underlying sales have declined from 4.2 per cent in the seven weeks to 21 October to 4.7 per cent in the 14 weeks to 10 December.
Boots is expected to host the opening of Britain's first high street GP surgery next month after a trial deal with Bournemouth and Poole NHS Trust.
Boots is said to be considering healthcare centres at about a dozen of its larger outlets. The initial range of services provided will include blood tests, physiotherapy, acute back pain services and ultrasound.
Gap is assembling a team to spearhead the introduction of its chain of Banana Republic clothes stores to the UK.
The company hopes to name a date in early 2008 for the European debut of the brand, which is the only part of Gap that saw sales increase over the three months to the end of October.
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