AS Watson creates international role
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AS Watson has created a new position to build its global health credibility.
The Hong Kong-headquartered health and beauty retailer has appointed Steve Gray to the new role of international healthcare director with effect from January next year.
Gray is currently healthcare director of AS Watson Health & Beauty (UK) chain Superdrug. COO Malina Ngai says the appointment reflects “the growing importance of health to AS Watson’s future strategy”.
“In the past decade when we have aggressively expanded our network from just over 7000 to 11,500 stores today, we have put a lot of focus in building our beauty authority. We are pleased to have established defined strengths in the beauty category across majority of our businesses.
“As a leading international health and beauty retailer, we see increasing opportunities in health and wellbeing hence decided to step up our focus on health in the total offering to our customers.”
In his new role, Gray will work closely with Ngai to further build the company’s health strategy and strengthen implementation in its operations, with the objective of accelerating the increase of healthcare sales and margin participation across the group.
Gray joined Superdrug in 2012 and during the past two years has grown its health business by over 20 per cent, built an online health offer via Online Doctor and led the development of Superdrug’s Wellbeing concept store.
Before joining AS Watson, Gray was COO at Lloyds Pharmacy’s parent company Celesio.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the primary objective of this new international healthcare director role?
What is the primary objective of this new international healthcare director role?
The new role aims to accelerate the increase of healthcare sales and boost margin participation across the entire AS Watson group. Steve Gray will work with Malina Ngai to strengthen the company's health strategy.
Q.What specific achievements has Steve Gray had in his current role at Superdrug?
What specific achievements has Steve Gray had in his current role at Superdrug?
At Superdrug, Steve Gray has grown its health business by over 20 per cent in the last two years. He also developed an online health offer and led the creation of Superdrug’s Wellbeing concept store.
Q.Why has AS Watson decided to increase its focus on health now?
Why has AS Watson decided to increase its focus on health now?
AS Watson sees growing opportunities in the health and wellbeing sector. After a decade of expanding its store network and building its beauty authority, it now wishes to enhance its health offering.
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