// Holland & Barrett appoints former executive vice president of Walgreens Boots Alliance
// Alex Gourlay has joined as executive chair
Holland & Barrett has appointed the former executive vice president of Walgreens Boots Alliance to help “grow and support” the brand.
Alex Gourlay has joined the health and beauty retailer as its executive chair, replacing Michael Casey who has been in the role since September 2021.
Gourlay was previously the executive vice president and co-chief operating officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance.
His role will include delivering the current plan to help H&B “realise its potential to grow and support” customers to make health and wellness a way of life.
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Meanwhile, Casey will remain as a non-executive board member and will return to LetterOne to create and lead a new business unit for making impact investments.
Following the recent successful refinancing by LetterOne, Holland & Barrett is “exceptionally well-positioned for future growth”.
Casey said: “I’ve been privileged to be involved in H&B for over 5 years. I’m proud to have been a small part of its 150-year history helping people lead happier, healthier lives.
“I am very grateful to my team and all of H&B’s colleagues who have worked tirelessly to support millions of customers through the pandemic while also undergoing a technology-led transformation to support each customer’s personal wellness journeys.”
Gourlay said: “I have always had huge respect for H&B. It is a much-loved UK institution playing a vital role for health and wellness on an international scale. The opportunity to help it through its next stage of transformation is genuinely exciting.
“Michael and the team have done a fantastic job positioning the business for a bright future. I thank them for that and am fully committed to taking their work forward successfully.”
