A board director at the multiple Well Pharmacy has been appointed Rowlands pharmacy’s new managing director, following Mark Bather’s retirement announcement.

Nigel Swift – who has held board-level positions at both Well Pharmacy and McKesson UK – will replace Mark Bather in August.

Mr Bather – who the announcement said is taking early retirement to ‘devote more time to personal pursuits and focus on family’ – joined Rowlands in 2019, first as retail operations director and later promoted to managing director.

Commenting on Mr Bather’s departure, Steve Anderson, managing director of the PHOENIX UK group, which owns Rowlands, said: ‘Through insight, energy and enthusiasm, Mark has led a radical transformation of the fortunes of Rowlands pharmacy making it fit-for-the-future. I completely understand why he would now want a bit more personal time after what has been an intensive and demanding couple of years.

‘The Board is grateful for all he has achieved on behalf of Rowlands and PHOENIX UK. All of us wish Mark and his wife a long and fulfilling retirement; knowing Mark it will be a very active one!’

He added that Mr Swift was one of the ‘most knowledgeable and experienced people’ in the sector, with ‘extensive international sales and marketing experience’.

‘He will build on the strong foundations which Mark established and continue to develop our Rowlands’ recovery and growth strategy,’ Mr Anderson said.

Mr Bather said: ‘I would like to thank Steve and the rest of the UK Board for giving me the opportunity and support to lead the retail team. I have been very fortunate to work on some key changes to the Rowlands Business during a challenging time for the pharmacy sector, and I’m really proud of the changes we have made.’

Mr Swift said he was ‘extremely proud and excited’ to join the PHOENIX UK team, adding: ‘I have admired the fantastic achievements of the business over the last few years and feel privileged to be able to be part of its future.’

Earlier this year, PHOENIX UK announced it had bought online prescription service Co-op Health and said it planned to ‘take it to the next level’ through its Numark and Rowlands network.