Sainsbury’s has appointed Paula Nickolds as its new General Merchandise and Clothing Commercial Director, joining the retailer's operating board. Paula was previously Managing Director at John Lewis, where she worked for 25 years. In her new role, Paula will be responsible for the commercial success of Sainsbury’s £7.8 billion general merchandise and clothing business which includes Sainsbury’s general merchandise, Argos, Habitat and Tu clothing, all of which are critical to support the retailer’s ambitions in food.

On her appointment, Paula said: “I’m excited to be joining Sainsbury’s. It is a retailer with fantastic heritage that is trusted by customers for its great combination of quality and value. It’s an important and dynamic time for the retail sector and I am thrilled to join the team for the next phase of growth and innovation, as well as the opportunity to make a difference to millions of customers’ lives through the much-loved Argos, Habitat and Tu brands.”