Shake-up at Boots to see Ornella Barra step down as boss and replace her partner Stefano Pessina as chairman

A shake-up in leadership at Boots will see Ornella Barra step down as boss and replace her long-term partner Stefano Pessina as chairman.Barra  – who has overseen the retailer since 2016 – said it was ‘the perfect moment’ to take on a ‘less operational role’.Buyout group Sycamore Partners broke up Boots’ former owner Walgreens Boots Alliance in August following its £7.4billion takeover of the US group. This created The Boots Group, which includes the chemist’s UK and Irish chains, Boots Opticians and the No7 Beauty company, as well as a pharmaceutical wholesale arm in Germany.Barra, 72, said: ‘The Boots Group is in great shape.’ Pessina, 84, will remain as a director.As part of the shake-up, Anthony Hemmerdinger, who runs Boots in the UK and Ireland, will oversee the No7 Beauty Company in a step-up from his current role. Power couple: Ornella Barra (pictured with partner Stefano Pessina) has overseen Boots since 2016DIY INVESTING PLATFORMSAJ BellAJ BellEasy investing and ready-made portfoliosHargreaves LansdownHargreaves LansdownFree fund dealing and investment ideasinteractive investorinteractive investorFlat-fee investing from £4.99 per monthFreetradeFreetradeInvesting Isa now free on basic planTrading 212Trading 212Free share dealing and no account feeAffiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence.Compare the best investing account for you  Buyout group Sycamore Partners broke up Boots’ former owner Walgreens Boots Alliance in August following its £7.4bn takeover of the US group. This created The Boots Group, which includes the chemist’s UK and Irish chains, Boots Opticians and the No7 Beauty company, as well as a pharmaceutical wholesale arm in Germany.Barra, 72, said: ‘The Boots Group is in great shape.’ Pessina, 84, will remain as a director. Barra, 72, said: ‘The Boots Group is in great shape.’Pessina, 84, will remain as a director.  Share or comment on this article: Shake-up at Boots to see Ornella Barra step down as boss and replace her partner Stefano Pessina as chairman

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