Boots appoints ex-shop flooring employee Anthony Hemmerdinger to take helm

Boots has appointed a former Saturday boy to take the helm.

Anthony Hemmerdinger will replace managing director Sebastian James in November as its US owner ponders the sale of the pharmacy giant.

James, an Old Etonian and contemporary of Boris Johnson and David

Top job: Anthony Hemmerdinger will replace managing director Sebastian James at Boots in November

Cameron in Oxford University’s Bullingdon Club, is leaving after six years to run Veonet, a European eye clinic network.

Hemmerdinger said: ‘Boots is a terrific business that holds a unique position at the heart of the UK’s health and beauty sector.

‘ I’m extremely proud of all we have achieved over the last few years.’

He worked at Boots in Manchester as a teenager and has also worked for pub firm Greene King and Sainsbury’s. 

After six years at Asda he returned to Boots as retail director in 2022.

Since then, he has been overseeing its estate of around 1,900 stores in the UK and Ireland. 

The company yesterday praised him for spearheading a revival of its beauty section.