Boots Alex Gourlay to take up new role at Walgreens
Alex Gourlay, the chief executive of Boots health and beauty division, is to take up a new role at Alliance Boots retail partner Walgreens as president of customer experience and daily living.
In his new position, Gourlay will report to Walgreens president and chief executive Greg Wasson and will oversee the US drugstore operator’s customer experience, US merchandising, marketing, customer insights, daily living products and promotions.
The move follows the launch of a strategic partnership by Walgreens and Alliance Boots in June last year. This involved Walgreens buying a 45% stake in the UK health and beauty chain with the option to proceed to full ownership by acquiring the remaining 55% of Alliance Boots in 2015 in a deal valued at around $9.5 billion.
Meanwhile, Simon Roberts has been appointed as managing director, health & beauty UK and Republic of Ireland. Roberts will be responsible for retail and pharmacy activities in the two countries. Previously, Roberts was chief operating officer, Boots UK where he led the UK and Republic of Ireland store networks, pharmacy, operations and customer care teams.
In an additional appointment, Ken Murphy has become managing director, health & beauty international and brands with responsibility for product innovation, development and branding, global commercial account management, and international retailing, together with contract manufacturing. Murphy was formerly chief operating officer, Boots UK with responsibility for brands, marketing, trading and commercial development, as well as IT.
