Alliance Boots has made three promotions to its senior team in an internal management reshuffle triggered by the departure of health and beauty chief executive Alex Gourlay this week.

Gourlay revealed in August he will take up his new role at Alliance Boots’ merger partner Walgreens next Monday and Alliance Boots has subsequently promoted a series of directors, Retail Week can reveal.

The retailer and pharmaceutical wholesaler has promoted Boots Opticians managing director Andy Ferguson to director of marketing for health and beauty UK and Ireland.

Boots UK finance director Ben Fletcher will take up the role of Boots Opticians managing director.

Elizabeth Fagan, former marketing director at Boots UK has been made marketing director for international and brands.

In addition, Alliance Boots is seeking a new director of healthcare.

A spokesperson for Alliance Boots confirmed the appointments. “It is our priority to continue to give the same customer care leadership following Alex’s departure, while we are focused on internationalising Boots products and brands,” the spokesperson added.

Gourlay, who has been at the retailer for 30 year, is moving across to lead customer experience at Walgreens, taking up the role of executive vice president, and president of customer experience and daily living.

He will be replaced internally by Simon Roberts, who has been appointed managing director of health and beauty UK and Republic of Ireland and Ken Murphy who has been appointed managing director of international health and beauty and brands.