Booting Up For Ireland

– Debbie Smith, MD, Boots Ireland

WORDS: Liv Morgan

It all began when Debbie Smith bought her first lipstick in Boots. Little did the teenager know then that she would eventually spend 24 years with the company working her way up to be Managing Director of Boots Ireland.

With governance over 1,800 employees in Ireland, Debbie has come a long way. She began as an instore pharmacist after completing her BSc (Hons) in pharmacy from the University of Sunderland. "I always knew I wanted to do something more because I wanted to keep learning and developing and looking at different opportunities. I didn't set out to join Boots and be there forever! But neither did I ever think of considering working anywhere else."

Debbie was appointed to Managing Director of the Irish Division in April. Originally from Manchester this lady had no qualms about taking on the role. "I was ready for something new. I was ready to be stretched again because I'd got very comfortable in the job that I was doing having done it for a few years. So as soon as it was mentioned I was really excited about the role."

Read more about Debbie  Smith in in the Autumn 2010 issue of WMB, on newsstands now!