Sainsbury’s hires former Boots UK MD as retail and operations director

Sainsbury’s has named former Boots UK managing director Simon Roberts as its retail and operations director. He will join the supermarket by July 2017.

Roberts was most recently executive vice president of Walgreens Boots Alliance and president of Boots in the UK & Ireland.
Prior to that, he was managing director of Boots UK, where he was responsible for leading retail and pharmacy activities in over 2,500 stores across the UK & Ireland.
Roberts joined Boots as regional director in 2003 from Marks & Spencer where for 14 years he held roles in Marks & Spencer’s stores and operations.
Mike Coupe, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said: “I am delighted to welcome Simon to Sainsbury’s. Simon is a very strong leader who is passionate about customers and colleagues. He has extensive stores experience, is customer-centric in everything he does and I am confident he will make a fantastic contribution to Sainsbury’s and the operating board.”