A former army officer has been appointed as the branch manager of the John Lewis At Home store being built alongside Ashford’s Drovers Roundabout.

Glynis Gunning-Stevenson will become the manager of the chain’s 10th At Home shop, which will employ 125 members of staff, including sales assistants, specialist advisers and catering professionals.

She has been part of the John Lewis Partnership since 2002, starting as a general manager at Waitrose, and being involved with the opening of the regional distribution centre at Aylesford in 2007.

She then moved to the John Lewis division in 2008, and taking up the role of general manager in selling support at the retailer’s flagship Oxford Street shop in London.

Mrs Gunning-Stevenson was appointed to lead the second At Home shop in Croydon in 2010, and has been there until the present day.

She said: “I’m delighted to become the branch manager for the 10th At Home shop.
“Having been at the helm of John Lewis At Home Croydon, I know how popular the format is with customers, and I’m excited to be bringing this to Ashford and the surrounding areas.”

Mrs Gunning-Stevenson did her officer training at Sandhurst and served with the Royal Corps of Transport in Germany, Belize, and Northern Ireland.

“The Army taught me so much about leadership and teamwork,” she said. “These skills have been essential during my time with John Lewis, and will continue to be as we work towards opening in Ashford.”

The store will sell furniture, furnishing accessories and home technology.