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Andy Street
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Andy Street
Sir Andrew John Street CBE (born 11 June 1963) is a British businessman and Conservative Party politician who was the managing director of John Lewis & Partners from 2007 to 2016 and Mayor of the West Midlands from 2017 to 2024. He was Britain's first openly gay directly elected metro mayor. Street won the May 2017 mayoral election, narrowly defeating Labour candidate Siôn Simon with 50.4% of the vote in the second round. He was re-elected in 2021 with an increased majority, defeating Labour candidate Liam Byrne. He sought a third term in 2024 but was narrowly defeated by Labour candidate Richard Parker.
Born in Banbury, Oxfordshire, Street moved to Birmingham with his parents, both scientists, when he was ten months old, growing up in Northfield and Solihull. He attended Green Meadow Infants School, Langley Junior School and was then privately educated at King Edward's School in Edgbaston. He studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Keble College, Oxford, where he was President of the Oxford University Conservative Association in the Trinity term of 1984.
After graduating, Street harboured ambitions to be a social worker, but he was turned down by Birmingham City Council. He was also turned down for the Marks & Spencer training scheme. Street thus started his career at the John Lewis Partnership in 1985 as a trainee at Brent Cross.
After roles in department stores, head office and manufacturing units, Street became managing director of John Lewis Milton Keynes in 1993, moving to the same role at Bluewater five years later. In 2000 he became supply chain director and then, two years later, director of personnel. He became managing director in 2007 and, during his tenure at the top, oversaw a 50% increase in gross sales to over £4.4 billion, a doubling in the number of stores and the growth of the company's online sales department, in spite of the Great Recession.
During his John Lewis directorship, Street also worked in local economic development, being named Chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership in April 2011. The announcement of his appointment came weeks after the news that John Lewis would open a flagship store in the newly developed Grand Central shopping centre above New Street station. In 2015, he became lead non-executive director for the Department for Communities and Local Government as well as a member of Prime Minister David Cameron's Business Advisory Group. Street stepped down from these roles in September 2016 after announcing his intention to run for Mayor of the West Midlands.
On 29 September 2016, Street was officially selected by Conservatives to stand in the first election for Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), which took place on 4 May 2017. Street said: "[The Combined Authority] will determine how we create wealth here and what type of society the West Midlands will become. (...) Our economy is being renewed but we have much more to do to ensure everybody feels the benefit. Our mission is therefore to build the economic powerhouse of Britain in an inclusive way. That will need leadership from somebody who has a proven record, can bring people together and can represent us with passion. This election needs to go beyond traditional political loyalties and I look forward to seeking voters' support for the job ahead." The following day, it was confirmed that Street would leave John Lewis at the end of October 2016. He was succeeded by Paula Nickolds, who assumed the role in January 2017.
For too long, Labour has taken voters [in the West Midlands] for granted. We can win here, we will win here. We really can do it, and so that's why I'm going to leave a job I love, to lead the place I love. This is a campaign that is moderate, inclusive and tolerant, and is made in the West Midlands.
In a speech at the 2016 Conservative Party conference, Street declared his support for Birmingham's bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games. He also announced that he would seek to address the "imbalance" in transportation spending that sees London receive seven times as much spending on transport infrastructure per head as the West Midlands does, seeking to end the "begging bowl culture" of applying for regional funding. Street said that fighting inequality would also be a priority, as "social challenges can only be met when everybody shares the fruits of economic progress", saying that he would draw on the lessons of Joseph Chamberlain and his own experiences with the John Lewis Partnership, which shares profits with all of its employees. He also called for a series of debates with Labour candidate Siôn Simon and Liberal Democrat candidate Beverley Nielsen.
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Andy Street
Sir Andrew John Street CBE (born 11 June 1963) is a British businessman and Conservative Party politician who was the managing director of John Lewis & Partners from 2007 to 2016 and Mayor of the West Midlands from 2017 to 2024. He was Britain's first openly gay directly elected metro mayor. Street won the May 2017 mayoral election, narrowly defeating Labour candidate Siôn Simon with 50.4% of the vote in the second round. He was re-elected in 2021 with an increased majority, defeating Labour candidate Liam Byrne. He sought a third term in 2024 but was narrowly defeated by Labour candidate Richard Parker.
Born in Banbury, Oxfordshire, Street moved to Birmingham with his parents, both scientists, when he was ten months old, growing up in Northfield and Solihull. He attended Green Meadow Infants School, Langley Junior School and was then privately educated at King Edward's School in Edgbaston. He studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Keble College, Oxford, where he was President of the Oxford University Conservative Association in the Trinity term of 1984.
After graduating, Street harboured ambitions to be a social worker, but he was turned down by Birmingham City Council. He was also turned down for the Marks & Spencer training scheme. Street thus started his career at the John Lewis Partnership in 1985 as a trainee at Brent Cross.
After roles in department stores, head office and manufacturing units, Street became managing director of John Lewis Milton Keynes in 1993, moving to the same role at Bluewater five years later. In 2000 he became supply chain director and then, two years later, director of personnel. He became managing director in 2007 and, during his tenure at the top, oversaw a 50% increase in gross sales to over £4.4 billion, a doubling in the number of stores and the growth of the company's online sales department, in spite of the Great Recession.
During his John Lewis directorship, Street also worked in local economic development, being named Chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership in April 2011. The announcement of his appointment came weeks after the news that John Lewis would open a flagship store in the newly developed Grand Central shopping centre above New Street station. In 2015, he became lead non-executive director for the Department for Communities and Local Government as well as a member of Prime Minister David Cameron's Business Advisory Group. Street stepped down from these roles in September 2016 after announcing his intention to run for Mayor of the West Midlands.
On 29 September 2016, Street was officially selected by Conservatives to stand in the first election for Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), which took place on 4 May 2017. Street said: "[The Combined Authority] will determine how we create wealth here and what type of society the West Midlands will become. (...) Our economy is being renewed but we have much more to do to ensure everybody feels the benefit. Our mission is therefore to build the economic powerhouse of Britain in an inclusive way. That will need leadership from somebody who has a proven record, can bring people together and can represent us with passion. This election needs to go beyond traditional political loyalties and I look forward to seeking voters' support for the job ahead." The following day, it was confirmed that Street would leave John Lewis at the end of October 2016. He was succeeded by Paula Nickolds, who assumed the role in January 2017.
For too long, Labour has taken voters [in the West Midlands] for granted. We can win here, we will win here. We really can do it, and so that's why I'm going to leave a job I love, to lead the place I love. This is a campaign that is moderate, inclusive and tolerant, and is made in the West Midlands.
In a speech at the 2016 Conservative Party conference, Street declared his support for Birmingham's bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games. He also announced that he would seek to address the "imbalance" in transportation spending that sees London receive seven times as much spending on transport infrastructure per head as the West Midlands does, seeking to end the "begging bowl culture" of applying for regional funding. Street said that fighting inequality would also be a priority, as "social challenges can only be met when everybody shares the fruits of economic progress", saying that he would draw on the lessons of Joseph Chamberlain and his own experiences with the John Lewis Partnership, which shares profits with all of its employees. He also called for a series of debates with Labour candidate Siôn Simon and Liberal Democrat candidate Beverley Nielsen.
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