Boots boss Simon Roberts to exit amid senior management shake-up

Roberts, who initially joined the retailer as a regional director back in 2003 but worked his way up to become Boots president and executive vice president of Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), will leave to “pursue other opportunities”.

Elizabeth Fagan, current senior vice president and managing director of international retail, will take up the role of senior vice president and managing director of Boots from July.

WBA said the switch was one of the changes being made “as part of the next phase of evolution”, following the integration of Walgreens and Alliance Boots.

The group’s executive vice chairman and chief executive, Stefano Pessina, told Retail Week he had tried to convince Roberts to stay, but he respected his decision, which was for “personal reasons”.

President of Walgreens Alex Gourlay and boss of global wholesale and international retail Ornella Barra – who both also serve as executive vice presidents of Walgreens Boots Alliance – have been appointed as co-chief operating officers.

Gourlay will oversee both Walgreens and Boots, while Barra will also supervise global brands, human resources and other business services as part of her expanded remit.

Under the structure, new executive vice president of Walgreens Boots Alliance and chief commercial officer and president of global brands Ken Murphy and Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, the current executive vice president and global chief human resources officer, will both report to Barra.

The group said the changes are designed to drive “greater focus and collaboration” and to “streamline the management” of global operations.

Walgreens Boots Alliance executive chairman Jim Skinner said: “As we continue to work together to find simpler and more effective ways to manage our company, I believe this is the right structure at the right time.

“The changes announced today will allow us to further enhance operating performance, while developing our company for the longer term.”