The UK’s largest health and beauty retailer has announced that retail and operations director Anthony Hemmerdinger will take on the role of managing director when Seb James steps down.
Hemmerdinger will be the managing director of Boots UK and Ireland from November 4 after James steps down from the role after six years.
Boots parent company Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) said Hemmerdinger’s appointment follows a “thorough search process which considered both external and internal candidates”.
He has held the role of retail and operations director at Boots since September 2022 and leads the team across its nearly 1,900 stores and distribution centres.
WBA said Hemmerdinger has been a “principal member of the leadership team under which the business has undergone a successful transformation” including spearheading Boots’ significant beauty refit and brand expansion programme across the company’s stores and delivering “its enhanced healthcare and beauty services in-store”.
He brings over 30 years of experience in the UK retail sector including being chief operating officer at Asda where he spent six years leading company operations across its UK retail portfolio.
Previous roles include senior operational and strategy positions at Greene King, Sainsbury’s and Carphone Warehouse, and 17 years at Marks & Spencer.
Ornella Barra, chief operating officer, international, at WBA said: “Anthony is a great leader with extensive retail experience. His deep understanding of our business, passion for brilliant customer service and strong relationships will ensure a seamless leadership transition and enable us to build on our transformation journey apace.
“Since he joined the Boots team in 2022, Anthony has successfully guided our retail and operations team through our change journey, which has delivered consistent growth across all our categories. I am confident that he, together with our talented leadership team, will ensure that Boots maintains its very positive trajectory.
“I would also like to once again thank Seb for his leadership over the last six years. On behalf of the whole team, we wish him all the best in his next role.”
Hemmerdinger said: “I am honoured to be appointed managing director at Boots, one of the UK’s most trusted brands and a place where I began my retail career with my first Saturday job as a teenager. Boots is a terrific business that holds a unique position at the heart of the UK’s health and beauty sector, and I am extremely proud of all we have achieved over the last few years. This is an exciting time for the company and I look forward to working with Ornella and the wider team to deliver against our ambitious strategy and build on our great momentum.
“I would also like to thank Seb for his support and leadership over the last few years. It has been a privilege to work alongside him and I look forward to working closely together in our handover period.”
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