Pearson Matthews to undertake Alliance Boots strategic review



Pharmacy giant Alliance Boots has appointed Pearson Matthews to explore its future international dispensing strategy.


The appointment will see the consultancy working on strategic options for Alliance Boots, in light of changing European regulations on pharmacy retailing.


Pearson Matthews principal Mike Pearson explains that the consultancy’s appointment follows four years of extended discussions with what was formerly the Boots side of the business.


The strategic review, which will be undertaken at board level, will have no bearing on the design work carried out on the Alliance Boots packaging design roster.


Pearson describes the appointment as ‘highly strategic’ and a very important one for the consultancy, which is undergoing a major internal reorganisation.


‘We are restructuring for growth into two trading divisions under the Pearson Matthews Group,’ says Pearson.


Sadler Associates will now focus on ‘traditional [product] design’, while Pearson Matthews will concentrate on the group’s more upstream ‘strategic and research and development activities’.


Pearson Matthews is also looking at developing its sustainable and environmental offer, with the appointment of Fiona Bennie, former campaign manager at the Design Council.


The restructure follows the merger of Pearson Matthews with Sadler Associates.



Brandopus boss poaches JKR directors Jones Knowles Ritchie’s former managing director Nir Wegrzyn has poached JKR’s design director Paul Taylor and two account directors to launch Brandopus.


Taylor left JKR at the start of the week and becomes creative director at the consultancy. Wegrzyn, who has worked with RHM and Heinz, exited JKR without explanation last summer after ten years, but was only contractually restricted from approaching former clients and colleagues for six months.


According to JKR chief executive Andy Knowles, the group is now recruiting to replace Taylor, as well as its departed account directors Avril Tooley and Louise Haigh.


Wegrzyn says there is a need for a design group that reaches client boardrooms and sits between ‘very creative groups that struggle with big clients’ and those ‘with larger clients that produce questionable work’.


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