Sidelined Boots brand boss Andrew Brent in sudden exit

Boots former UK marketing director Andrew Brent has left the high street pharmacy chain less than a year after being sidelined to a group brand role.

Brent was replaced as marketing director for UK retail in July last year by Boots Opticians managing director Elizabeth Fagan, and became group brand director.

He joined in September 2005, taking over from Ian Hunter who moved to a role at the company’s international operation, after two years in the job.
The changes were part of a new corporate structure following the £11bn takeover by chairman Stefano Pessina and venture capitalists KKR last summer. At the time chief executive Richard Baker also left the company.

Pessina, who became executive chairman following the takeover, owns 50% of the equity. The deal at the time ranked as Europe’s biggest private-equity buyout.

Brent was subsequently made group brands director and was to focus on taking the Boots brand international. Boots No7 beauty brand has a huge retail presence in the US.

It is not known if Brent, a former Burger King marketing director, has a job to go to.

Fagan joined Boots Opticians in September 2006, from DSG International where she held a number of senior roles, including marketing director then managing director of The Link and group media director.

Brent was responsible for launching the “Change one thing” healthy living initiative in 2006, under which the retailer offered general health advice in store, backed by a number of marketing and advertising campaigns.

He was also responsible for drafting in former Nestlé Rowntree and Coca-Cola Great Britain marketing chief Andrew Harrison, now chief executive of trade body Radio Centre, to beef up its marketing (MW April 26, 2006).