London, 26 January 2026: The Boots Group (the “Company”), a leading health and beauty retailer and pharmaceutical wholesaler, announced today that, effective 9 February 2026, Ornella Barra will retire from her role as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and will replace Stefano Pessina as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of The Boots Group. Mr. Pessina will continue as a Director. Ms. Barra will also continue to oversee the Company’s ESG agenda as Chairperson of The Boots Group ESG Committee.
Ms. Barra has led this group of businesses since her appointment as Co-Chief Operating Officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (“WBA”) in 2016. She assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of The Boots Group in August 2025 following the completion of the acquisition of WBA and subsequent separation of The Boots Group by Sycamore Partners in partnership with Stefano Pessina and his family. Ms. Barra remains a shareholder and a member of the Board of Directors of the various standalone companies that were formerly part of WBA.
With Ornella’s retirement, Anthony Hemmerdinger, SVP and Managing Director, currently responsible for Boots UK, Ireland and Opticians, will assume a wider range of responsibilities, including oversight over No7 Beauty Company and the assumption of all group-level functions. He will report to the Board of Directors.
Ms. Barra said: “For some time now, I have been considering transitioning to a less operational role. I concluded that this is the perfect moment and the right choice for me to best serve the Company moving forward. The Boots Group is in great shape, both financially and operationally, with Boots UK having grown market share for 19 consecutive quarters, and has strong leadership teams in place across all of its businesses.”
Ms. Barra added: “In partnership with Sycamore, I am confident that Boots, No7 Beauty Company, and all of the businesses across The Boots Group will continue to flourish and unlock their full potential.”
Stefano Pessina said: “Ornella has been a defining leader for this business, and I thank her for her dedication and impact over many years. Our family remains fully committed to The Boots Group, and we have great confidence in Anthony and the management teams as the Company continues to move forward.”
Stefan Kaluzny, Managing Director of Sycamore Partners, said: “Ornella’s leadership was instrumental in establishing The Boots Group as a strong, independent company. We appreciate her many contributions and look forward to continuing our partnership with her and Stefano.”
Consistent with the Company’s strategy upon its separation from WBA, each business within The Boots Group, including Boots, Alliance Healthcare Germany, and Farmacias Benavides, will continue to operate autonomously, reporting to The Boots Group Board, and execute its long-term strategy. This structure enables each local management team to accelerate decision-making and maximize long-term value for the Company.
ENDS
The Boots Group includes pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses globally, along with a pharmaceutical wholesale operation in Germany. Through trusted brands, including Boots, No7 Beauty Company and Farmacias Benavides, the company focuses on helping people look and feel their best by delivering convenient high-quality healthcare and retail services. The Boots Group’s pharmaceutical wholesale business in Germany operates under the Alliance Healthcare Deutschland and GEHE brands, and supports over 11,000 pharmacies nationwide through modern logistics and digital healthcare services.
The Boots Group Contacts
James Murgatroyd, Anjali Unnikrishnan, Jack Shelley
FGS Global
+44 20 7251 3801
BootsGroup@FGSGlobal.com