Ornella Barra

Ornella is Chief Executive, Pharmaceutical Wholesale Division, Alliance Boots, and is a pharmacist by profession.

She is best known for her commitment and enthusiasm to the pharmacist profession and healthcare industry, and demonstrates her dedication by actively participating in a variety of industry organisations, whilst simultaneously globalising the Alliance Healthcare business and internationalising the Boots brand.

Pharmacist

Ornella graduated from the University of Genoa with a degree in pharmacy in 1979 and embarked on a career in the healthcare sector. She started out as a pharmacist, first managing and then setting up her own pharmacy. She maintains her enthusiasm for pharmacy and pharmacists, and consequently acts as a Special Professor at the University of Nottingham’s School of Pharmacy. Ornella additionally founded the European Pharmacists Forum (EPF), the main aims of which are to create a European and transversal approach to the profession by bringing together representatives from eight member countries.

Chief Executive

Under Ornella’s leadership as Chief Executive, Pharmaceutical Wholesale Division of Alliance Boots has been further internationalised and continues to go from strength to strength. In the financial year ending 31 March 2010, the Division’s revenue and trading profit increased by 10.3% and 17.2% respectively. These results have been delivered through strategic planning and partnerships with independent pharmacists and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Community Involvement

Ornella is very supportive of pharmacy’s evolving role within the community and is involved in numerous pharmacy organisations within Europe, all of which support pharmacists in their healthcare delivery role. She is also Chairman of Alliance Boots’ Social Responsibilities Committee and is therefore committed to Group policy issues relating to the environment, health and safety, diversity and equal opportunities, race relations, employment of people with disabilities, charitable giving and ethical matters.

Health & Beauty Globalisation

Ornella firmly believes that strong brands must be global and has been instrumental in many brand globalisation initiatives. She has developed Alliance Healthcare as a shared brand for all Alliance Boots wholesale activities and the Alphega Pharmacy brand (a pan-European virtual chain of independent pharmacies) is now present in several European countries. In addition, Ornella is responsible for the international development of the Boots brand.