Boots chief pharmacist role up for grabs as Marc Donovan takes new position
Boots UK is looking for a new superintendent as current chief pharmacist Marc Donovan prepares to take a new role within the company, the multiple has confirmed to C+D.
Marc Donovan – who has worked at Boots UK for more than 25 years, serving as its chief pharmacist since 2015 – will take up the position of director of healthcare development and public affairs, a spokesperson for the multiple told C+D this afternoon (August 25).
He will hand over his responsibilities as superintendent pharmacist once the new “appointment is made”, the spokesperson added.
Mr Donovan will take over his new role from Tricia Kennerley, the current director of international public affairs at Boots' parent company Walgreens Boots Alliance, following her retirement “at the end of September”, they added.
Read more: Boots chief among 3 pharmacists recognised in Queen’s Jubilee Honours list
He will report to Jamie Kerruish, who was recently appointed director of healthcare at Boots UK.
Meanwhile, Anne Higgins, the current director of pharmacy stores at Boots, will become pharmacy director.
In June, Mr Donovan was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) title for his “services to pharmacy” in the Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours list.
Asif Aziz to leave Boots UK
Asif Aziz – who has spent 26 years at Boots and Walgreens Boots Alliance after joining the company as a newly qualified pharmacist, most recently holding the role of director of healthcare – will leave the multiple “to take up a new opportunity outside the business”, the spokesperson confirmed. They did not specify what new opportunity Mr Aziz is taking up.
Mr Aziz was awarded an OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours List for his “services to pharmacy, especially testing for COVID-19”.
Read more: Three pharmacists recognised in Queen's New Year Honours list
Boots wishes both Ms Kennerley and Mr Aziz “all the best and thank them for their enormous contribution during their long tenure with us”, the spokesperson told C+D.
The mutliple has in recent months come under fire for “changes” to the opening hours of 1,300 of its pharmacies and unconfirmed allegations shared on social media that it has been capping locum rates.
It follows current workforce pressures in community pharmacy, which many employers – including Boots – have attributed to a disputed shortage of pharmacists.
