Top-level departure at Boots sparks reshuffle

The departure of Brian Whalam, director of The Boots Company and managing director of Halfords, has resulted in a number of key appointments at the company’s headquarters in Nottingham.

Whalam is to be succeeded by the managing director of Do It All, Ken Piggott, who in turn will be replaced by Rob Scribbins, logistics director at Boots the Chemist (BTC).

Ken Philby, buying and marketing controller at BTC, has also been appointed as the new marketing director for AG Stanley, which runs Homestyle and Fads. The move follows the departure of Clive Dobbs to Boots Healthcare International last year.

These appointments will take effect from August, when Whalam is due to announce his retirement at The Boots Company’s annual general meeting.

Boots bought the ailing Do It All chain from WH Smith for 1m last year to complete a home retail package with Fads and Homestyle. Sales were up 6.6 per cent to 254.6m in Boots’ latest annual results.