News in brief: Ruis leaves John Lewis for Jigsaw, ‘Encouraging’ Topps sales fall on the floor, Eurozone piles the pressure on Greece

2 July 2013

Peter Ruis, the man who moved John Lewis’s clothing away from Are You Being Served? to become a draw for fashionistas, today quit as buying and brand director of the partnership.

Ruis is to take on the top job at Jigsaw as chief executive after nine years at John Lewis and an earlier spell at Marks & Spencer. Paula Nickolds will replace Ruis at John Lewis, moving from her current role as buying director for its home division.

‘Encouraging’ Topps sales fall on the floor

Sales slip 1.5% and the chief executive rates the performance “encouraging” — that’s how it is at flooring specialist Topps Tiles.

That fall in sales in the 13 weeks to July contrasts a 2.1% rise over the same period of 2012. But boss Matthew Williams said: “The last five weeks has been more encouraging. Sales are returning to... growth.” Analysts expect pre-tax profit for the year to October to be about £12.6 million.

Eurozone piles the pressure on Greece

The eurozone is again ratcheting up pressure on Greece to deliver its promised economic reforms. Brussels officials have told the Athens government it must give assurances it is on course to meet its commitments by next Monday or see its next tranche of bailout funds withheld. “All agreed that Greece has to deliver,” a Brussels source said.

Athens is due to receive €9.1bn (£6.9bn) funding, which may be broken up into instalments.