Stefano Pessina – At the Helm of Alliance Boots

Very little is known about Stefano Pessina,merged with Alliance Santé, the Franco-Italian
Executive Chairman of Alliance Boots of Alliancepharmaceutical wholesale group which he
Boots PLC.established in Italy in 1977.  He is a nuclear
Here’s what we do know; Stefano Pessina,engineer by profession.
the executive deputy chairman of Alliance Boots,Alliance UniChem is now a wholly owned subsidiary
founded Alleanza Salute Italia in 1977 (under theof Alliance Boots. As a result, he swapped his
name of Alleanza Farmaceutica), which expanded30.00% stake in Alliance UniChem for a 14.94%
to form Alliance Sante SA. When UniChem PLC(15%) shareholding in Alliance Boots, once again
and Alliance Sante merged in 1997/8, he wasthrough his investment company Alliance Sante
issued with 36% of the combined AlliancePrescription SA. This was subsequently increased
UniChem shares, through his investmentto 145,048,918 shares, representing 14.9913% of
company, Alliance Sante Prescription SA. AfterAlliance Boots' share capital, promptly after the
share issues due to acquisitions, he held 30.00%merger completed.
of Alliance UniChem, prior to its merger withStefano Pessina indirectly wholly owns Alliance
Boots.Sante Participations S.A., the directors of which
Stefano Pessina was appointed Executiveinclude Stefano Pessina and Ornella Barra (the
Chairman of Alliance Boots in July 2007 havingWholesale and Commercial Affairs Director of
previously been its Executive Deputy Chairman. Alliance Boots). Taken together, Mr. Pessina and
Prior to the merger of Alliance UniChem andOrnella Barra own roughly 15.106% of Alliance
Boots Group he was Executive Deputy ChairmanBoots PLC's share capital.
of Alliance UniChem, before that having been itsRecently, Stefano Pessina was featured in Forbes
Chief Executive for three years up untillist of top 500 wealthiest people, at 428, with an
December 2004.  Stefano was appointed to theestimated net worth of 1.8 billion USD.
Alliance UniChem board in 1997 when UniChem