John Lewis staff rebuke Sharon White over losses but back her to continue

Chair vows retailer will stay employee-owned after row over reported plans to sell stake in partnership to investors

The boss of John Lewis pledged the group would always remain employee-owned “no ifs no buts” after staff members backed her to continue as chair but expressed their dismay at the retailer’s poor performance last year.

Sharon White had faced controversy after reports she was considering selling a stake in the company to an outside investor in an attempt to raise £2bn. On Wednesday, her leadership was tested in a confidence vote at a twice-yearly meeting of the retailer’s 60-strong council, which is elected by employees to represent them.