Andy Street
Sir Andy Street CBE (born 1963) is a British businessman and Conservative politician who served as the first Mayor of the West Midlands from 2017 to 2024.[1][2] He was elected in the inaugural contest for the role, defeating Labour's Sion Simon, and re-elected in 2021 before losing to Labour's Richard Parker in 2024 amid a national swing against the Conservatives.[3][4] Prior to politics, Street led John Lewis as managing director from 2007 to 2016, during which the department store chain doubled its number of outlets and boosted sales by over 50 percent through strategic expansion and customer-focused operations.[5][6] Born in Banbury, Oxfordshire, and raised in Birmingham, Street studied philosophy, politics, and economics at Keble College, Oxford, graduating in 1982 before entering retail as a graduate trainee at John Lewis in 1985.[2][7] Rising through roles in stores, head office, and manufacturing, he progressed to managing director of John Lewis Milton Keynes in 1993 and later to broader leadership positions within the Partnership.[7] As mayor, Street prioritized economic regeneration, transport infrastructure such as Midlands Metro extensions, and skills development to drive regional growth, while chairing the West Midlands Combined Authority to coordinate devolved powers.[8][9] His tenure, marked by pragmatic cross-party collaboration despite ideological tensions with national party policies, earned him a knighthood in the 2025 New Year Honours for public service.[2][10]