Biography
Pharmacist and Business Leader
Ornella Barra is Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Boots Group.
Born in Italy and now of Monegasque nationality, Ornella graduated from the University of Genoa with a degree in pharmacy and embarked on a career in the healthcare sector. She started out as a pharmacist, first managing a pharmacy and then acquiring one of her own. In 1982 she founded the pharmaceutical wholesaler Di Pharma, which was later taken over by Alleanza Salute Italia.
Through organic growth and acquisition the company expanded across Europe including the merger with British UniChem in 1998 and the creation of Alliance UniChem. In 2006 Alliance UniChem merged with Boots the Chemist becoming Alliance Boots - the first pharmacy-led health and beauty group. Then, in 2014 the group merged with Walgreens, one of the largest drug store chains in the US, and became Walgreens Boots Alliance - an integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader.
In 2025, following its acquisition by the New York-based leading private equity firm Sycamore Partners with Ornella and Stefano Pessina, The Boots Group was formed. Ornella has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Boots Group.
In August 2025, following its acquisition by Sycamore Partners, a leading private equity firm based in New York, with Ornella and Stefano Pessina, The Boots Group was formed. Ornella was appointed as The Company’s Chief Executive Officer. In February 2026, she retired from her role as CEO, replacing Stefano Pessina as Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Boots Group. Additionally, she continues to chair The Boots Group Environmental, Sustainability and Governance Committee.
Ornella sits on the Board of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (she previously held the office of Chairwoman of the IFPW twice, between 2014 and 2016 and from 2021 to 2023). She is an Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham, School of Pharmacy, member of the Advisory Council of SDA School of Management, Bocconi University and member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for European Analysis and Policy of LUISS University. For over ten years, from January 2015 to May 2025, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of Cencora (formerly known as AmerisourceBergen).