Biography
Pharmacist and Business Leader
Ornella Barra is Chief Executive Officer of The Boots Group.
Born in Italy and now of Monegasque nationality, Ornella graduated from the University of Genoa with a degree in pharmacy and embarked on a career in the healthcare sector. She started out as a pharmacist, first managing a pharmacy and then acquiring one of her own. In 1982 she founded the pharmaceutical wholesaler Di Pharma, which was later taken over by Alleanza Salute Italia.
Through organic growth and acquisition the company expanded across Europe including the merger with British UniChem in 1998 and the creation of Alliance UniChem. In 2006 Alliance UniChem merged with Boots the Chemist becoming Alliance Boots - the first pharmacy-led health and beauty group. Then, in 2014 the group merged with Walgreens, one of the largest drug store chains in the US, and became Walgreens Boots Alliance - an integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader. In 2025, following its acquisition by Sycamore Partners, a leading private equity firm based in New York, The Boots Group was formed.
Role and Responsibilities
As Chief Executive Officer for The Boots Group, Ornella oversees all of the Company’s businesses, including Boots UK and pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses in Europe, Latin America and Asia. She also leads the Company’s pharmaceutical wholesale operation in Germany and the No7 Beauty Company portfolio of science-led beauty brands. Additionally, she chairs The Boots Group Environmental, Sustainability and Governance Committee.
She also holds significant roles in various organisations including Bocconi University, LUISS University, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (IFPW) and the Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers in Italy. For over ten years, from January 2015 to May 2025, Ornella was a member of the Board of Directors of Cencora.