TONY Wheeler who has steadily risen in the ranks at John Lewis has been appointed managing director of the High Wycombe store at Holmers Farm Way.

Mr Wheeler, who hails from Surrey, kicked off his career at the flagship shop in Oxford Street, London, as an A level trainee and gained shop floor selling experience in a number of departments before his first management appointment in 1986.

That was the beginning of his rise in management which included Furnishing Accessories in Streatham before a move to Jones Brothers in Holloway Road where he undertook his first department managership in menswear and travel Goods.

He managed various departments, including linens, children's shoes and fashion fabrics, before taking up the position of merchandise manager at Peter Jones in Sloane Square in 1997 and assistant general manager at the same branch in 1999.

He was later general manager at John Lewis Southampton in 2001 and Kingston before being appointed as managing director at John Lewis Norwich in 2004. Mr Wheeler lives in Surrey with his wife and two children and his interests include squash, golf and West Ham United.