One of Lloydspharmacy's most senior and longest serving head office directors has left the company, C+D has learned.

Andy Murdock, external relations and policy director at Lloydspharmacy's parent company Celesio UK, who worked at Lloydspharmacy for more than 30 years, has left to "pursue other interests", Celesio told C+D yesterday (December 10). It was unable to provide further details about the departure of Mr Murdock or who would replace him.

His departure follows the loss of Celesio chief executive Markus Pinger over a difference of opinion in July and the departure of Lloydspharmacy and AAH managing director Mark James who was replaced by Cormac Tobin in March.

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	Mr Murdock worked as a pharmacy manager in a small multiple formerly owned by Lloydspharmacy from 1982, before joining AAH as a pharmacy manager in 1993. He became Lloydspharmacy pharmacy director in 1997, where he remained until taking up his most recent position in May last year.

As policy director at Celesio UK, Mr Murdock called for pharmacists to be funded to give exercise advice and for the sector to embrace technology. He was also involved in the Community Pharmacy Future project, which saw Lloydspharmacy, Boots, the Co-operative Pharmacy and Rowlands team up to trial medicines support services for COPD sufferers and older patients on multiple drugs.

"Andy's colleagues across Celesio UK would like to thank Andy for his commitment and contribution over a long career and wish him well in his future endeavours," a Celesio spokesperson said.

In October, US healthcare giant McKesson announced a £5 billion deal to buy out Celesio, but said it did not expect to make any changes to Celesio's "terrific management team" or organisational structures.