Sir Stuart Hampson
Chairman of the Crown Estate, and formerly Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership.
One of the longest serving and most successful leaders of a blue-chip company and a highly regarded businessman, Sir Stuart Hampson was chairman of the John Lewis Partnership for 14 years until his retirement in March 2007. During those 14 years at the helm of JLP Sir Stuart presided over a courageous programme of modernisation, and all without sacrificing the partnership ethos and principles that were embodied in its 1929 constitution co-ownership and the happiness of its staff.
The partnership’s 2006 results, announced shortly before Sir Stuart’s departure, are a testament to his efforts. Pre-tax profits hit a new high and the 68,000 staff - or “partners” - shared a bonus equivalent to 18 per cent of salaries. The fact that John Lewis continues to outperform the market is a direct result of its partnership structure, says Sir Stuart. “Our success comes from improvements made by people who are motivated to deliver outstanding customer service, which translates into profits that feed back to staff”, he says. “It’s a virtuous circle”.
A founding deputy chairman of London First and past President of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, he is President of the Employee Ownership Association and continues to champion the benefits of employee engagement in business. Sir Stuart is also a patron of The Home Farm Trust Ltd, a national charity providing long term support for people with learning disabilities and their families.