Chief executive, health and beauty, Alliance Boots

Alex Gourlay Chief Executive health and beauty Alliance Boots

Little-known outside the retail world, the Scots-born pharmacist’s stock has really grown since Stefano Pessina and KKR took over Alliance Boots in 2007. Softly spoken Gourlay started working in one of Boots stores and worked his way up, and now runs the entire retail operation. There have been tough decisions and a big cost-cutting programme to carry out, but Boots has emerged in better shape and has held its own despite tough competition in its markets from the supermarkets, and pressure from the government to reduce the costs of dispensing.

Gourlay has emerged as a passionate advocate of the high street, working closely on a retailer-led solution to its problems through Business in the Community. Pessina is, one would imagine, among the most demanding bosses there could be but Gourlay clearly has his confidence, and was paid perhaps the ultimate compliment when Pessina decided against replacing departed group chief executive Andy Hornby, because Gourlay and his wholesale counterpart Ornella Barra can do the job equally well.