Superdrug appoints new property director

Superdrug has appointed Clare Jennings as its new property director, following the retirement of Nigel Duxbury. 

Jennings will take over from Duxbury on 2 May 2025 and will become the third female executive on the twelve board of directors at Superdrug, following the promotions of Amy Davies to people director and Meg Potter to trading director in April 2022.

Jennings, who joined Superdrug’s owner AS Watson in 2018 as a senior regional estates manager, before being promoted to head of estates in 2021, has 25 years of experience in commercial property. Her executive promotion is in recognition of her ongoing contribution and success, which includes refitting the flagship Marble Arch Superdrug store and managing and training a thriving property team.

Regarding her appointment, she said: “I am delighted to be promoted into the role of property director at AS Watson, a business that has brought me so many career highlights already. 

“I am very passionate about our store estate and for Superdrug in particular, we have very strong ambitions in 2025. We aim to open 30 new sites this year, including best-in-class retail park stores in locations like Leeds Briggate and Meadowhall. We will also refit 65 stores to ensure that we continue to offer our customers and communities the very best in modern, up-to-date shopping experiences.” 

She continued: “These are exciting times to be part of the AS Watson Group and I look forward to driving our thriving estate forwards with support from my fellow executive board members, the property team and our retail colleagues across the country.”

In addition to supporting Superdrug and Savers, Jennings will also oversee The Perfume Shop, just as Duxbury did, as part of AS Watson Group.

Superdrug CEO and director of AS Watson Health and Beauty UK, Peter Macnab said: “Nigel’s immense contribution to the AS Watson Group has been nothing short of remarkable. He has played an integral role in transforming Superdrug, as well as Savers and The Perfume Shop and has been instrumental in making them the robust businesses they are today. 

He added: “His achievements are too many to list, but his tenure has included the integration of many amazing Beauty Studios into the Superdrug estate, the opening of our best-in-class Westfield Stratford store and the launch of the More Sustainable Store Project across the whole AS Watson estate. 

“As the leader of our Superdrug ESG workstream, he has also passionately led our incredibly successful and longstanding charity partnership with Marie Curie, which has raised a staggering £13m in 11 years. On behalf of all of us here at Superdrug and AS Watson wider, I thank Nigel for his incredible 20 years of service and wish him a healthy and happy retirement.”