Ms Nevinson has been with the health and beauty giant for 26 years, Boots revealed in its announcement this afternoon (October 18).

She has held a variety of roles, having overseen prescribing and innovation as Boots’ deputy superintendent for the past two years.

As the first female superintendent at Boots, she will be responsible for all matters relating to patient safety, as well as overseeing the implementation of the procedures and operations and providing professional leadership to pharmacists and their teams, the multiple said.

“It is an honour and a privilege to be appointed as superintendent pharmacist for Boots and I look forward to the important work that lies ahead,” Ms Nevinson said.

“I am incredibly proud to represent [Boots’ pharmacy teams] in my new role,” she added.

An “iconic” role

Boots director of healthcare Jamie Kerruish described the superintendent pharmacist role as “an essential and iconic position within Boots”.

“I feel very lucky to be able to ask Claire to take it on,” he said.

“Her impressive work as deputy superintendent has prepared her brilliantly for her new responsibilities and I have every confidence in her ability to lead our pharmacy team members as community pharmacy plays an ever-greater role in primary care.”

Ms Nevinson will report to Mr Kerruish, as will Mr Donovan, who will now fully assume his new role as director of healthcare development and public affairs.

Boots announced in August that it was looking for a new superintendent pharmacist as Mr Donovan – who has worked at Boots UK for more than 25 years, serving as its chief pharmacist since 2015 – had been assigned a new role.