Claire Nevison has been appointed as Boots superintendent pharmacist and is the first woman to hold the post in the company’s 173-year history.

Ms Nevinson has worked at Boots for 26 years, most recently as deputy superintendent for prescribing and innovation for the last two years.

She replaces Marc Donovan OBE, who will now fully assume his role as Director of Healthcare Development and Public Affairs, which he began alongside his superintendent responsibilities in August.

Jamie Kerruish, director of healthcare at Boots, described the superintendent pharmacist role as ‘essential’ and ‘iconic’, and said that he felt ‘very lucky’ to ask Ms Nevinson to take it on.

‘Her impressive work as deputy superintendent has prepared her brilliantly for her new responsibilities and I have every confidence in her ability to lead our pharmacy team members as community pharmacy plays an ever-greater role in primary care,’ he said.

The Boots superintendent pharmacist is responsible for patient safety and the implementation of healthcare procedures and operations, as well as providing professional leadership to all Boots pharmacists and their teams.

Ms Nevinson described the appointment as ‘an honour and a privilege’. She said: ‘I look forward to the important work that lies ahead. Our pharmacy teams work hard to provide exceptional care to patients every day in their communities and I am incredibly proud to represent them in my new role.’