Management Shifts Continue Between Walgreens and Alliance Boots

International pharmacy-led group Alliance Boots and Walgreen Co. announced Richard Ashworth, Walgreens' corporate operations vice president for the Western United States, has been appointed as director of health care, health and beauty UK and Republic of Ireland (ROI) at Alliance Boots. In this new role, Ashworth will bring his extensive leadership and knowledge in health care and work in close collaboration with the experienced teams in both countries to lead the development and delivery of the Boots health care offer for customers in the U.K. and Ireland.

Stefano Pessina, executive chairman of Alliance Boots, said, “We are very pleased to welcome Richard to our group. His appointment further illustrates the progress we continue to make toward achieving our vision for the creation of the first global health and well-being enterprise. As he familiarizes himself with the U.K. and Irish markets, Richard’s experience at Walgreens will bring positive benefits to Boots and the delivery of its health care plans, as well as help further combine best practices of our two companies.”

Greg Wasson, president and CEOof Walgreens, commented, “Richard’s two decades of health care experience, leadership and service to Walgreens in a variety of roles has been invaluable to our company as we continued to develop our strategy to transform community pharmacy. His move to Alliance Boots represents yet another step forward and is further testament to the strong and steady progress we are making in advancing our strategic partnership.”

Ashworth’s appointment further contributes to the Alliance Boots and Walgreens strategic partnership, announced in June 2012, when the companies initiated a two-step process that would allow for the thoughtful integration of the two organizations. The convergence began at the end of 2012 with the establishment of a joint venture in Switzerland and the transition of key Walgreens and Alliance Boots executives to that entity, and continued with the appointment of Alex Gourlay, former chief executive of Alliance Boots' health and beauty division, as Walgreens' executive vice president, president of customer experience and daily living, in August 2013.

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