LONDON — British department store John Lewis on Monday appointed Will Kernan its managing director, succeeding Peter Ruis, who is stepping down to pursue new projects, as part of "an orderly succession plan." Ruis, who returned to John Lewis in 2024 after a previous nine-year stint that included serving as buying and brand director, will remain with the business until Sept. 6. Kernan has most recently been chairman of furniture and kitchen retailer Neptune and joined the John Lewis Partnership board as a non-executive director in 2023. "Having served on the Partnership's board for three years, I have a clear understanding of the John Lewis business and a huge appreciation for the Partnership's values and employee-ownership model. We have significant headroom for growth, and I'm looking forward to leading the team to ensure John Lewis remains the country's most trusted and loved retailer, in store and online," Kernan said.