Boots Opticians marketing chief latest to join exodus of executives
The Boots marketer responsible for developing the retailer’s laser eye clinics and hearing care centres, Martin Pettifor, has left the company.
It is understood Pettifor, the former marketing development director for Boots Opticians, does not have a job to go to. A spokesman for the company says: “He left on Friday last week to pursue alternative interests.”
Helen Oliver, marketing and merchandise director for Boots Opticians, will continue to oversee marketing, reporting to managing director Norman Usher.
Pettifor will not be replaced. General manager for laser eye surgery Penny Cope and general manager for hearing care Adrian Evans, both of whom previously reported to him, will now report to Usher.
A spokesman for Boots says: “Laser and hearing care centres are very much part of the future for Boots.”
So far Boots has set up 59 hearing care centres, which test hearing ability and offer disposable hearing aids, marketed under the brand name Songbird. It has also launched seven laser eye surgeries, trading under the name Lasik and charging around £1,200 an eye for a one-off treatment.
Pettifor’s exit follows a raft of other departures from Boots: director of business development Martin Bryant and managing director of Boots Wellbeing Services Phil Douty have left as part of a streamlining exercise (MW July 18); and Boots strategic marketing chief Zoë Morgan is stepping down from her role later in the year (MW July 11).
