LONDON, June 8 (Reuters) - Alliance Boots, the privately owned high-street chemist, said on Monday it had appointed former HBOS Plc chief executive Andy Hornby as group chief executive.
Hornby, who was CEO of HBOS until its takeover by Lloyds Banking Group in a government-brokered rescue in January, will report to Alliance Boots Executive Chairman Stefano Pessina, the company said in a statement.
Pessina said the appointment of Hornby, who previously held senior management roles at Asda, the British grocer owned by Wal-Mart Stores Inc, would allow him to spend more time on developing the group.
"Andy's wealth of retail and marketing experience will be an invaluable asset for the company, complementing our existing skills and expertise," Pessina said.
Hornby, who is also a non-executive director of Home Retail Group Plc, was one of a handful of top bankers who apologised for their role in the banking crisis before a meeting of Britain's Treasury Select Committee in February.
He will join Alliance Boots, which operates more than 3,200 stores in nine countries, on July 1. (Reporting by Paul Sandle, editing by Will Waterman)