PIPPA WICKS: FAN OF BUDDHISM

Lives: Central London. Family: Married, one son, two stepdaughters, five grandchildren.

Hobbies: ‘I love cooking [Asian food is a favourite] and classical music. We go to listen to stuff as a family at places like Wigmore Hall and the Barbican.’

Dream travel destination: ‘I love Bhutan [in the Eastern Himalayas]. It was one of the places I was planning to return to before I

accepted the position at John Lewis. It’s very beautiful and the people are amazing. I’m very attracted to Asian culture generally – it just appeals to me. I’m intrigued by Buddhism and what that stands for.’

Favourite composers: Handel and Janacek.

Books: Authenticity by Alice Sherwood – ‘it touches on all sorts of different areas, from moths that mimic other moths to put birds off eating them, to online fakes and conspiracies’.