Martin Astbury has been elected as the first president of leadership body the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS). John Gentle has been elected treasurer.
Mr Astbury and Mr Gentle were elected by members of the RPS Assembly, the overarching body consisting of appointed members of the RPS English, Scottish and Welsh national boards.
Mr Astbury, who is a community pharmacist, was previously the vice-president of the RPSGB for three terms before regulation was passed to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) last month. Mr Gentle, also a community pharmacist, had previously served as treasurer of the RPSGB.
Commenting on his new position, Mr Astbury said the RPS needed to encourage members to view the organisation enthusiastically. The RPS would provide an “influential voice for our profession,” he added.