Page 49 - Powerlist 2020

Sharon White run a firm of anywhere near that size in the UK. If she can Business, Corporates, Financiers & Entrepreneurs

Chair, John Lewis Partnership repeat the success she’s had at Ofcom, she will do well.
On the announcement that she was leaving Ofcom,
Lord Burns, Ofcom Chairman, said: “Sharon has been an
Sharon’s appointment in June 2019 as the new head of outstanding Chief Executive for Ofcom and will be missed
John Lewis, took many by surprise. The role carries huge by the whole organisation.
responsibilities and challenges. The Partnership is the “Under Sharon’s leadership, Ofcom has helped to deliver
third largest privately owned company in the UK, with ultrafast broadband, widespread 4G mobile and now 5G,
revenues of £10.3billion. Its unique ownership structure and became the first independent regulator of the BBC.”
means the 84,000 partnership staff have a say in the “She leaves Ofcom as a regulator with a relentless
running of the business. The group financial results for the focus on the consumer interest; making sure people and
first six months of 2019, showed profits down by just under businesses can get the best out of their communications
15%, excluding extraordinary items, on the previous six services.”
months. Sharon said: “It’s been a huge privilege to lead Ofcom
Sharon’s career has been full of ‘firsts’. When she was at a time when reliable, affordable communications have
appointed chief executive of Ofcom three years ago, she become essential. I will leave behind an organisation that
became the first person of African Caribbean heritage and is dedicated in its mission to make communications work
the first woman to head the regulator. She also became for everyone.”
the first black woman to hold such a senior position in a Before taking the position at Ofcom, Sharon oversaw the
media organisation. When she takes up the John Lewis role UK’s spending cuts as a senior Treasury advisor, making
in January 2020, she will become the first black woman to her one of the most powerful women in Whitehall.

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