Richard Ellis - Business in the Community
Richard Ellis in blue shirt and pink tie smiles

Richard Ellis

Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility,
Walgreens Boot Alliance

Circular Economy Taskforce
Climate Action Leadership Team

Richard has spent the past 40 years working for a range of companies on all aspects of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda.

The early part of his career was spent in banking before becoming involved in CSR after the inner city riots of the early 1980s. After this involvement he held responsible-business-related positions at HSBC, TSB, British Aerospace and ran his own CSR consultancy for five years.

In 2003 he joined Boots and became responsible for all the company’s CSR activities. Following the merger between Boots and Alliance UniChem and the subsequent private equity buy-out he was appointed Director of CSR.

The year 2014 saw the creation of Walgreens Boots Alliance following the merger between Walgreens in the USA and Alliance Boots. He has been responsible for this agenda since then.

Richard sits on the Environment Leadership Team and the Circular Economy Taskforce at Business in the Community (BITC).

Richard has said that aligning the company’s sustainability strategy with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has meant Walgreens Boot Alliance’s sustainability team can secure “far greater” boardroom-level support for its actions.

About BITC’s Climate Action Team and Circular Economy Taskforce

Each area of work BITC undertakes is led by a group of senior executives who provide strategic guidance and support us in achieving our objectives.

The purpose of BITC’s Climate Action Leadership Team is to help business drive innovation that turns the threats of the climate emergency into opportunity for people and nature.

BITC’s Circular Economy Taskforce brings together a group of senior executives committed to delivering a high impact programme to bring the circular economy to life.

Find out more about BITC’s work on the environment.