WBA names new managing director for Boots
Walgreens Boots Alliance on Friday named Sebastian James senior vice president and president and managing director of Boots. He will join the company in the summer of 2018 and take up his new role at the beginning of the new fiscal year on Sept. 1.
Elizabeth Fagan, who has led Boots since June 2016, will continue to work with the company and will take on the newly created role of non-executive chairman of Boots in the new fiscal year.
James will report to Alex Gourlay, co-COO for Walgreens Boots Alliance.
“We are delighted that Sebastian will join our company at an equally exciting and challenging time for the retail environment in the U.K. and for the future development of Boots, a brand synonymous with pharmacy and care," Gourlay said. "We are sure his deep retail expertise will drive significant progress and innovation at Boots for the benefit all our stakeholders. I also want to warmly thank Elizabeth who has been leading the business very successfully for the last 18 months or so, and in her over 11 years with the company has made an invaluable contribution. She will continue to do so in her next role.”
James comes to Boots from Dixons Carphone, Europe's leading specialist electrical and telecommunications retailer and services company, where he has served as group chief executive since 2014. Previously, he was CEO Synergy Insurance Services and Silverscreen Holdings. James started his career in management consulting with The Boston Consulting Group and Bain & Company.
“I am very excited to be joining Walgreens Boots Alliance at this time in its history, and to have been offered the privilege of leading Boots, surely one of the U.K.’s most iconic, venerable and trusted brands," James said. "At a time of unprecedented change in both the retail and healthcare markets, to build on the fantastic work that the team has done over the last few years, and to be a part of the next chapter for this great company is an extraordinary opportunity.”
Elizabeth Fagan, who has led Boots since June 2016, will continue to work with the company and will take on the newly created role of non-executive chairman of Boots in the new fiscal year.
James will report to Alex Gourlay, co-COO for Walgreens Boots Alliance.
“We are delighted that Sebastian will join our company at an equally exciting and challenging time for the retail environment in the U.K. and for the future development of Boots, a brand synonymous with pharmacy and care," Gourlay said. "We are sure his deep retail expertise will drive significant progress and innovation at Boots for the benefit all our stakeholders. I also want to warmly thank Elizabeth who has been leading the business very successfully for the last 18 months or so, and in her over 11 years with the company has made an invaluable contribution. She will continue to do so in her next role.”
James comes to Boots from Dixons Carphone, Europe's leading specialist electrical and telecommunications retailer and services company, where he has served as group chief executive since 2014. Previously, he was CEO Synergy Insurance Services and Silverscreen Holdings. James started his career in management consulting with The Boston Consulting Group and Bain & Company.
“I am very excited to be joining Walgreens Boots Alliance at this time in its history, and to have been offered the privilege of leading Boots, surely one of the U.K.’s most iconic, venerable and trusted brands," James said. "At a time of unprecedented change in both the retail and healthcare markets, to build on the fantastic work that the team has done over the last few years, and to be a part of the next chapter for this great company is an extraordinary opportunity.”