Ms MacRury – who has served as superintendent director for a decade – will leave her post next month, Rowlands said in a statement this afternoon (January 28).

She decided to take a step back from this role to focus on the pharmacy contract developments taking place in Scotland, which could influence future pharmacy contractual arrangements in England and Wales, Rowlands added.

Stephen Thomas, who is currently Ms MacRury’s deputy, will take up the post of superintendent in February.

Mr Thomas has worked for Rowlands for almost 18 years, working side-by-side with Ms MacRury for the last decade.

“I am immensely proud of our superintendent team”

Following the announcement, Ms MacRury said in a statement that she had “hugely enjoyed” her time at Rowlands, which has seen “the business grow from strength to strength introducing new initiatives to improve patient care”.

She added: “I am immensely proud of our superintendent team, who do outstanding work every day. I know Stephen will continue that commitment to protecting patients and promoting the pharmacy sector.”

Reflecting on her time as superintendent director, she said: “I have seen our sector ever increasingly being recognised as a critical part of the NHS ‘family’, providing essential access to much-needed healthcare support and advice alongside dispensing. These are exciting times, which Stephen will take forward.” 

Ms MacRury – who will now take up the role of strategic advisor for regulatory affairs Scotland, at Rowlands – feels that the Scottish government “understands the unique value of community pharmacy in delivering improved healthcare outcomes”.

“Going forward, I will continue to play my part, alongside Stephen, in promoting community pharmacy not just in Scotland, but throughout Great Britain,” she added.

“Our sector faces many challenges”

Mr Thomas said that he “inherit[s] from Margaret a fantastic team of colleagues”, the work and dedication of whom he said is “second to none”.

He added: “Our sector faces many challenges, but also new opportunities. Community pharmacy is the third pillar of our national healthcare service alongside GP surgeries and hospitals. With fair and sustainable funding, it can, and does, transform lives.”

The Phoenix Group, Rowlands’ parent company, “will continue to pioneer innovative healthcare provision…such as bricks and clicks, blending physical and digital services, while at all times putting the patient at the heart of what we do”, Mr Thomas added.