Experienced finance leader Brigid Hughes appointed National Pharmacies CFO

Finance executive Brigid Hughes has been appointed Chief Finance Officer for National Pharmacies and will take up her new role today.

Ms Hughes has worked in senior leadership roles across multinational, ASX-Listed and privately owned consumer-facing companies, including fast moving consumer goods and retail. 

Most recently she was Head of Financial Planning and Analysis for Viva Energy Australia (owners of the OTR Group and Reddy Express) in Adelaide and five years prior in the same role at Nandos UK in London.

Born and raised in Adelaide, South Australia, Ms Hughes has spent two decades working in the UK, including as CFO for a private equity backed national restaurant group UK with an annual turnover of $62.6m and 500 employees.

National Pharmacies CEO Mark Smith said Ms Hughes was appointed following a comprehensive recruitment process and would bring more than 20 years’ of experience and knowledge in shaping business strategy and driving operational excellence.

“Ms Hughes joins the National Pharmacies team at a pivotal time, as the industry embraces new opportunities influenced by the expanding scope of pharmacy practice and the evolving landscape of online retail and healthcare,” Mr Smith said.

“Having led high-performing finance teams in Australian and the UK, Ms Hughes will be a significant asset to National Pharmacies in our next phase of growth as one of Australia’s largest community pharmacy groups.”

Ms Hughes said she was excited to bring her experience with national retail and hospitality groups into the community health sector — “an area that plays an increasingly vital role in the lives of Australians every day”.

"It's a privilege to join a respected, South Australian-founded organisation with such deep roots in the community,” Ms Hughes said. “I look forward to contributing to its ongoing growth and evolution as we continue to shape the future of community health together."