Few people embody leadership, resilience and inspiration quite like Denise Crosswaite. With over 18 years of senior leadership experience in the retail sector, Denise has built a career defined by unlocking potential in people, driving transformation, and building high-performance teams that deliver results while helping individuals thrive.
Currently Head of Branch at John Lewis & Partners Cheadle, Denise leads one of the UK’s most iconic retail destinations with vision and energy, balancing strategic foresight with operational excellence. She is known across the John Lewis Partnership for her ability to lead through change, empower others, and foster collaboration, all while delivering both people and business outcomes.
But Denise’s impact goes far beyond retail. A natural mentor and motivator, she has dedicated much of her career to developing tomorrow’s leaders, always believing that investing in people is the key to long-term success. It’s this philosophy that everyone deserves the chance to feel confident, valued, and inspired that guides her work with the Dame Robina Shah Foundation.