Fagan apppointed MD at Boots opticians

Elizabeth Fagan, the former DSG International marketer, has been appointed as managing director of Boots Opticians. She left the electrical goods retailer last month after a series of changes to her role.

Fagan will oversee the running of more than 280 Boots Opticians outlets and report to healthcare and store development director Alex Gorlay. She replaces Chas McShane, who has retired after a year in the managing director post.

Fagan was appointed group media director at DSG International, which owns Currys, PC World and The Link, earlier this year (MW February 2).

That role, which followed two stints as group marketing director and managing director of The Link, involved her managing the group’s contracts with all its advertising and media agencies, as well as developing relationships with other agencies. An insider at Boots Opticians says Fagan’s new role will involve responsibility for the activities of the marketing and buying teams, as well as the running of the stores themselves.

Separately, Boots recently created the first dedicated website for its opticians’ business. It was previously a micro-site on the main Boots website.

Customers will now be able to book tests online and find the nearest store.

A spokeswoman says the aim of the site is to give Boots Opticians – the UK’s third

biggest chain of opticians – its own, distinct personality, rather than encourage perceptions of it as an offshoot of Boots.