Stefano Pessina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stefano Pessina
|
|
|---|---|
Pessina in 2010
|
|
| Born | 4 June 1941 Pescara, Kingdom of Italy
|
| Education | Polytechnic University of Milan (BS) |
| Title | Executive chairman of Walgreens Boots Alliance |
| Term | 2021–present |
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Children | 2 |
Stefano Pessina was born on June 4, 1941. He is a very successful businessman from Italy and Monaco. He is the main leader and biggest owner of a large company called Walgreens Boots Alliance.
Contents
Early Life and Studies
Stefano Pessina was born in Pescara, Italy. He grew up in different Italian cities like Milan and Naples. He studied nuclear engineering at the Polytechnic University of Milan. After college, he worked in academics. He also joined a company called ACNielsen in Milan. He had wanted to be a nuclear physicist. However, the political situation in the 1970s made him change his mind.
Building a Business Empire
In 1977, Pessina took over his family's business. It was a company that sold medicines to pharmacies in Naples. He changed it into a big French-Italian company called Alliance Santé.
In 1997, his company joined with another one called Alliance UniChem. Pessina was the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of this new company from 2001 to 2004. Later, he became its chairman.
The company then joined with Boots Group PLC in 2006. In 2007, it became a private company. Pessina was the chairman of Alliance Boots from 2007 to 2014. Today, he is the Executive Chairman of Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA). He also helps lead the Consumer Goods Forum. In 2020, he decided to step down as CEO of WBA. He took on a new role as executive chairman, replacing Jim Skinner.
Comments on Politics
In 2015, Stefano Pessina gave an interview. He talked about the possibility of the Labour Party winning the election in the United Kingdom. He said that if they did what they said, it could be a "catastrophe" for the country. He felt their business plans were not helpful.
Some Labour Party leaders did not like his comments. One leader, Chuka Umunna, said that people would decide for themselves. He pointed out that Pessina did not live or pay taxes in the UK. Another leader, Ed Miliband, also said that people should not be told how to vote by someone who avoids paying taxes in the UK.
Walgreens Boots Alliance later said that Pessina's comments were his personal views. They said his words were taken out of context. They also stated he was not campaigning against any political party.
Personal Life
Stefano Pessina is married to Ornella Barra. She is also a top leader at Walgreens Boots Alliance. Before this marriage, Pessina was married to Barbara, and they had two children. As of October 2024, experts estimate that Stefano Pessina's wealth is about $6.7 billion.
Awards and Special Honors
- 2013: He received the Grand Official of the Order of the Star of Italy.
- 2016: He won a Special Achievements Award in Business. This was from the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF).
- 2017: He received the Golden Plate Award. This award is from the American Academy of Achievement.
- 2018: He was added to the World Retail Hall of Fame.
