Omnicell revamps community pharmacy division team as part of personalised new approach.
New community pharmacy division leader will focus on supporting sector in evolving market
Omnicell, a leading provider of medication management solutions and adherence tools for health systems and pharmacies, has appointed Edward Platt as the new Senior Commercial Director of its UK community pharmacy division. Ed’s new role expands on his current leadership remit for Omnicell’s UK & Ireland hospital division.
Ed, who joined Omnicell in 2015, will be responsible for increasing Omnicell’s footprint of automation and consumable solutions delivered into UK community pharmacies, leading a revamped commercial team. Specialist teams will focus on small independents and small multiple operators, with dedicated colleagues managing Omnicell’s major multiple, national chain and buying group relationships. This will help ensure the differing needs and challenges across the sector can be fully understood and supported.
“The market is constantly evolving, and we believe there is scope to better deliver on the needs of community pharmacists by developing dedicated specialist teams,” says Ed. “Faced with funding cuts, staff shortages, rising costs, increased demand and the continuing growth of mail-order pharmacies, community pharmacists are facing a myriad of challenges just to survive.
“Community pharmacies need to make tangible change to their operating models, and we see the adoption of automation as key in helping them evolve into sustainable and successful businesses. With our new and repurposed team, we are fully committed to supporting community pharmacists and helping them to realise the benefits of harnessing technology.
“Automation can transform the workflow in a pharmacy, freeing up time and capacity to explore additional clinical services and revenue streams. This is crucial for community pharmacies to be successful in the long-term.”
In addition to Ed’s appointment, Kath Hughes, with 25 years’ experience supplying solutions into the healthcare sector, will be managing national chains and buying group relationships as Senior National Sales Manager. Tariq Hussain will take on the role of National Strategic Account Manager, responsible for major multiple operators. Tariq brings with him more than 20 years of experience supplying pharmacy automation and pharmaceuticals to community pharmacy.
Three new Regional Sales Managers will also support the needs of more than 400 small multiple pharmacy businesses: Adrian Hall has joined with 20 years of sales consulting experience, including 10 years in pharmacy, social care and hospital, and his new role will see him focus on sales in the northern region; Francesca Down is a seasoned pharmacy manager with over a decade of experience working within community pharmacy, and will be covering the Midlands; Karam Jain will be covering the South region and brings with him strong experience in selling medical capex sales into NHS laboratories, private medical establishments and community pharmacy,
Louise Langton and Helen Grace, each with 30 years of experience in the retail pharmacy sector, will focus on supporting the needs of small independent pharmacies.
Gary Paragpuri, who joined Omnicell in 2022 as part of Omnicell’s acquisition of Hub and Spoke Innovations, will continue to support the UK team in his role as Business Development Director.
Ed adds: “I’m immensely proud to be leading such a highly focused and experienced team. We recently managed the 200th UK installation of our market-leading Pharmaself24 prescription collection kiosk, and I’m keen to see us pass more of these milestones as we demonstrate the significant role technology has to play within the sector.”
For more information, please visit www.omnicell.co.uk or email: UKMASales@omnicell.com
ENDS
For more information, please contact Trinity PR on: 07547 100504 or email Tracey.thompson@trinitypr.co.uk / jo.gulliver@trinitypr.co.uk
