Waitrose boss Mark Price resigns

Waitrose confirmed that Mr Price will resign on April 3

Mr Price has worked as the deputy chairman of Channel 4 since July 2013 as well as working full time as deputy chairman of the John Lewis Partnership and the managing director of Waitrose (Photoshot)

The boss of Waitrose will step down from his post at the supermarket to apply to be acting chairman of Channel 4 next year.

Mark Price has spent 33 years with the John Lewis Partnership but wanted to try for the post as chairman of Channel 4 when Lord Terence Burns stands down in January.

“I’m 55 next year and thought I can’t go on and on running Waitrose forever. Coming up to my 10th year I thought it was the right time for me and obviously I can’t do Channel 4 and Waitrose at the same time," he told the Evening Standard.

Mark Price, who named himself “the chubby grocer” will become the fourth supermarket boss to leave this industry in the last 18 months.

Mr Price has worked as the deputy chairman of Channel 4 since July 2013 as well as working full time as deputy chairman of the John Lewis Partnership and the managing director of Waitrose. He is expected to relinquish the post at Waitrose to apply to take over at Channel 4 when Lord Burns, the current chairman, steps down next year, in an interim role while Ofcom looks for a permanent chairman.

Waitrose confirmed that Mr Price will resign on April 3. He will be replaced by Rob Collins, Waitrose's Retail Director.

The Government is mooting the privatisation of Channel 4 in a sale that could be worth around £1 billion.

Ofcom reportedly wanted Lord Burns to stay in the post, but ministers have rejected this as they plan the sale of Channel 4.

Channel 4 declined to comment. An Ofcom spokesperson said: “Ofcom is proceeding with the recruitment of the next Channel 4 Chairman to succeed Lord Burns when his term ends early next year.”