eoa Appoints Newly Created Vice Chair Role

The eoa has strengthened the leadership capacity of its Board with the appointment of a Vice Chair.

Image: Chris Earnshaw, newly appointed Vice Chair of the eoa Board

Chris Earnshaw, President of the Partnership Council and Director of Democratic Engagement at the John Lewis Partnership (JLP), has been appointed as Vice Chair on the eoa Board following a recruitment process open to current board members. 

The newly created role is designed to support the eoa through its next phase of growth.

Three Decades of EO Experience

Chris has served on the eoa Board since March 2020 and brings almost three decades of experience from JLP, having held senior leadership roles across both John Lewis & Partners and Waitrose & Partners.

As President of the Partnership Council – JLP’s most senior democratic body – Chris is an advocate for employee ownership and workplace democracy, championing the co-owned model as a distinctive and resilient way of doing business.

Chris said: "I am delighted to be appointed as Vice Chair and it will be a real privilege to carry out this role. It is an exciting new chapter for the eoa and the EO sector. 

“I look forward to supporting the new Chair and the eoa Board going forward. It also strengthens the long-standing commitment and belief JLP has in the eoa and the positive impact it can have on society.”

James de le Vingne, Chief Executive of the eoa, said: “Chris brings deep knowledge of employee ownership, both from JLP and as an active EO advocate.

“Not only has he supported two new Chairs to the Partnership, his role is rooted in effective governance, representation, and democratic practice. These are skills we see and regularly benefit from on the Board.

“As a not-for-profit organisation run in the interests of our members, with a clear purpose to propel employee ownership into the business mainstream, this is an exciting time for Chris to be stepping into the role.”

Governance Changes at the eoa

The appointment comes ahead of proposed governance changes at the eoa that aims to balance representing members as well as evolving to meet the needs of a growing sector. 

A year-long review has culminated in a set of proposals informed by member input, benchmarking, legal advice and contributions from the senior leadership team. 

The proposals are designed to create greater stability, strengthen accountability, ensure best-practice decision-making structures, and recruit the skills needed to deliver our future objectives.

The creation of the Vice Chair role will also provide continuity and stability during the planned departure of the current Chair, Chris McDermott, at the end of his second term. 

Chris, former CEO of Cambridge Nutritional Foods, has made a significant impact both as Chair and as an EO business leader within the wider employee ownership community.

Members Invited to Have their Say

The proposals have been shared with eoa members who are being invited to vote on them at the People Powered Business: eoa AGM. 

The AGM will also provide an opportunity to reflect on what we’ve achieved alongside our members and to look ahead to the organisation’s future priorities.