Superdrug has announced the promotion of Simon Comins to chief operating officer (COO).

Comins has worked at the health and beauty retailer for 38 years, joining the firm when he was 15-year-old as a part time employee in his local store.

Over the years, he has worked across all areas of the business in a variety of roles, most recently as chief commercial officer, which he has held since 2022.

In that role Comins oversaw the company’s commercial teams, marketing, and CRM functions, helping to deliver consistent brand messaging, strong supplier partnerships, and customer value across more than 800 stores nationwide.

Superdrug said that Comins has been “instrumental” in shaping some of company’s most innovative customer experiences, including the recent launch of Beauty Playground which is designed to bring an a more fun experience to shopping.

The company added that the promotion will result in the unification of retail and commercial operations under one cohesive strategy, with Comins helping to ensure Superdrug continues to lead the industry in delivering outstanding customer experiences, both in-store and online.

“Simon’s deep understanding of both our business and our customers makes him ideally placed to lead the next phase of our journey,” said Superdrug chief executive Peter Macnab. “His ability to drive innovation has already delivered fantastic results, from strengthening our commercial strategy to bringing new experiences for our customers to life.”

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