Profile: Peter Ruis, John Lewis brand and buying director, who is joining Jigsaw as its new chief executive

Peter Ruis is one of the best known names in fashion retail.  Over the past nine years he has been transforming John Lewis from the place where shoppers picked up slippers and wedding hats to a fashion emporium.

The department store has always had a stronghold in home, but under Ruis, who joined as head of menswear in 2005 before moving up to buying director across fashion two years later, it has built itself a solid reputation in clothing too.  

Last year the retailer cemented its fashion credentials with the launch of its Alice Temperley collaboration which became the fastest-selling brand John Lewis’ its history.

But it is not just fashion nous that has made Ruis one of the most respected operators in the industry. He has also helped build the John Lewis brand, and was a key architect in its heart-warming Christmas ads. The 2011 tearjerker, featuring a little boy impatiently counting down the days until Christmas so he can give is parents their gift, won a prestigious Cannes Lion advertising award this year.

Ruis has a wealth of experience across fashion. He started his career as a graduate trainee at Marks & Spencer back in 1989, where, in a sign of the times, his first job was buying shell suits.

After eight years at M&S, where he gained experience across many departments, he moved to Ted Baker as head of product.

Ruis was responsible for creating Ted Baker’s first formal collection. Back then, Ted was a casualwear specialist so his contribution – he designed, sourced and sold the range – played a big part in developing the brand.  

As well as working at two of the UK’s largest retailers, Ruis also has international experience which could come in useful at Jigsaw, which is eyeing international growth.

After Ted, he moved to Amsterdam to work for jeans firm Levi Straus Europe, Middle East and Africa as brand director which he said was “an adventure”.

At Levi he worked across 25 countries. Jigsaw only has a presence in one international country, the US, however a Dubai store is on the horizon with 10 franchised stores across the Middle East planned by 2017.

With fashion knowhow, international expertise and branding brilliance, Ruis could be what’s been missing at Jigsaw.