Outgoing John Lewis Partnership chair Charlie Mayfield has drawn up plans to reduce duplication at the business to cut costs sources told The Times.

The department store and grocers currently have separate HR departments, finance, marketing and procurement departments and separate operating boards in three different head offices - one for Waitrose, one for John Lewis and a third used for shared partnership services.

Before changes can be made, Mayfield’s plan will be discussed with the partnership council - its employee body that must be consulted on any decision that could lead to 12 or more employees being made redundant.