Boots has appointed outgoing Currys chief executive Alex Baldock to lead the health and beauty retailer from this autumn as its owners prepare the business for further growth following its separation from Walgreens Boots Alliance.

The company confirmed on Thursday that Baldock would succeed Anthony Hemmerdinger, who has overseen Boots UK, Ireland, Opticians and No7 Beauty Company and will remain in post until the handover is completed. Baldock has led electronics retailer Currys since 2018 and is credited with restructuring the business and improving its digital operations.

Boots’ board said Hemmerdinger had played a central role in establishing the company as a standalone private business after Sycamore Partners acquired Walgreens Boots Alliance earlier this year in a $10 billion deal. The board said Boots had delivered “20 consecutive quarters of like-for-like retail share growth and customer satisfaction improvements” under his leadership.

Baldock said: “I’m honoured and delighted to be joining Boots as CEO. Boots is an iconic, trusted brand with a strong heritage, and plays such an important role in millions of customers’ lives.”

The appointment places Baldock at the centre of efforts to revive one of Britain’s best-known high street chains as investors assess whether Boots could eventually return to the London stock market. Boots’ owners are seeking a valuation of as much as £7 billion, although retail industry figures questioned whether an initial public offering was imminent given weak conditions in UK equity markets.

The move follows a period of significant change at Boots, which has undergone store closures and cost reductions since Walgreens bought the business in 2014. Sycamore later split Walgreens into five standalone entities after completing its takeover, with Boots becoming an independent business once again.

Baldock said his arrival marked “an exciting new chapter for Boots”.

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