Robin Winfield to lead 'the Queen's pharmacist', John Bell and Croyden

Society handled the appointment of Robin Winfield as Operations Director of John Bell and Croyden, the Queen's pharmacist and a signature part of the German healthcare and pharmaceutical giant Celesio AG.

Operating from a large property on the corner of Wigmore Street and Bond Street in London's West End, John Bell and Croyden has been a Royal Warrant holder for several decades. The store is the supplier of choice for nearby Harley Street clinics, and on their shelves you can find everything from high-end cosmetics through to surgical equipment. They also provide a number of luxury treatment rooms, and even maintain a team of in-house clinicians.

Society was tasked with recruiting the store's new Operations Director (their equivillent to a General Manager). It was a complex and demanding search, since retails brands with this sort of heritage and reputation are few and far between, yet at the same time Celesio recognised the need to sharpen the store's brand standards and service delivery and to find ways of unlocking fresh growth potential. We were tasked with finding an operator who had an understanding of the luxury retail world, but would also be able to cope with high volume turnover and a very busy sales floor. After an intensive search, the appointed candidates was Robin Winfield. He was previously a Regional Manager with Space NK and before that with Molton Brown. He brought with him high standards and a passion for team that has seen John Bell and Croyden begin to flourish again under his stewardship.

Robin commented:

"Taking over the operational and emotional ownership for a brand with such heritage was always one of my key drivers in making the decision to join the business. I have not been disappointed by the reality of that responsibility. The brand, I am proud to say, is stronger today and we have yet further to travel. My team are engaged and motivated towards delivering a best in class service and I am confident that our customers and shareholders are feeling the benefit from that. Our trading team have refreshed our product range and, with our suppliers' support, we now offer what I believe to be the very best options for our discerning customers. As we look to 2015, an ambitious refurbishment programme is on the cards and the brand is set for expansion. The future is exciting for us and I am delighted to have been introduced to this business by Society. My new role is certainly challenging, but extremely rewarding and I am excited for our future."