John Lewis boss so Moneysupermarket

Comparison website Moneysupermarket.com has gone shopping at John Lewis for its new chief executive.

Mark Lewis, the department store chain’s retail director, is a tech specialist who joined the partnership three years ago as its online director.

He was seen as a potential candidate to replace Andy Street, who has stepped down to run for office as mayor of Birmingham, although John Lewis lifer Paula Nickolds got the job this week.

Lewis, who will take over from outgoing boss Peter Plumb, is a Cambridge mathematics graduate with a wealth of experience in the tech sector.

This includes senior roles at online auction website eBay. Lewis also ran online shopping parcels delivery service CollectPlus.

Liberum analyst Ian Whittaker said: “Lewis’s previous experience as online director, where he oversaw an online upgrade, is important as the investment in Moneysupermarket’s technology platform could be the key to starting to grow and protect the margins as well as growing the top line.”

Plumb ran the comparison website for seven years, taking over from founder Simon Nixon. However, he announced his departure in August.

His biggest deal was buying Martin Lewis’s MoneySavingExpert for £80 million in 2012.

The shares added 2.2p to 267.5p.