Cassoni new FD at John Lewis

The John Lewis Partnership, one of the UK’s top ten retail businesses, has announced the appointment of Marisa Cassoni as Finance Director. Marisa will join the Partnership on 26 June 2006.

Marisa, 54, joins the Partnership following five years as Group Finance Director at The Royal Mail where she played an instrumental role in guiding the company through its renewal programme. Marisa brings with her a wealth of experience having previously been Group Finance Director at Britannic Assurance plc from 1998 to 2001 and Group Finance Director of Prudential’s UK division between 1994 and 1998.

A qualified chartered accountant since 1975, Marisa has also been a non-executive Director of Severn Trent since 2001. She was appointed non-executive Director of GFI in 2005, a company listed on NASDAQ, and WSP Group in 2006, where she chairs both audit committees. Marisa also sits on the Accounting Standards Board and is a Governor of the Peabody Trust.

Sir Stuart Hampson, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said:

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome Marisa to the John Lewis Partnership as our Finance Director. Marisa’s breadth of experience and expertise will be of significant value to the Partnership as John Lewis and Waitrose continue to face the rigour of such a competitive sector.

“Ros Haigh has admirably served as Acting Finance Director since the death of Ian Alexander at the end of November last year, and she will resume her position as Director of Financial Control with my thanks.”