ORNELLA Barra is not exactly a name known on the streets of Nottingham.

But the Italian is chief executive of the pharmaceutical wholesale division of Alliance Boots and a main board member.

She has made it into Fortune magazine's top 50 most powerful international women in business.

In fact, she is ranked number nine outside the US.

Fortune describes her as a driving force in Europe's healthcare industry.

She became chief executive of Alliance Boots' largest division last year – responsible for businesses in more than 20 countries – boosting sales by 10.3 per cent to £12 billion, and profit to £254 million, a rise of 17.2 per cent.

Insiders at Alliance Boots describe her as committed and enthusiastic to her pharmacy profession and the healthcare industry.

"Ornella is very supportive of pharmacy's evolving role within the community, as illustrated by her involvement with the European Pharmacists Forum which she founded more than ten years ago to support pharmacists in the delivery of healthcare," said a colleague.

Mrs Barra became part of Boots at the time of the merger with Alliance Unichem three years ago.

The University of Nottingham quickly appointed her as a special professor of pharmacy where she gives occasional lectures to students and advises on overseas expansion strategy.

Prof Kevin Shakesheff, head of the school of pharmacy at the university, has praised Mrs Barra's contribution.

He said: "She has helped at all levels, particularly on our pharmacy course. She teaches undergraduate students, giving them exposure to a fantastic success story. She is very good with the students.

"At a strategic level, Ornella Barra helps us with our international plans, particularly our plans for Malaysia and Ningbo in China.

"She has helped us set up our pharmacy degree at our campus in Kuala Lumpur and goes over every year to advise on the future.

"Boots has a presence in Asia and she is well aware what the future demand for students will be."

The university is looking to expand its pharmacy into China – acknowledged as a difficult market.

"Drug treatment is very different so having a friendly industrial partner to help advise us has been really good," added Prof Shakesheff.

Those who have worked with Mrs Barra describe the pharmacist as exceptionally bright, getting on with people at all levels.

As well as the wholesale division, Mrs Barra is also responsible for growing Boots international, the health and beauty retail sector outside the UK and Ireland.

Mrs Barra said: "I am personally delighted by this ranking.

"But, more importantly, I view this as another mark of recognition for the company, the teams and the Boots brand.

"We have recently further expanded the Boots brand in Thailand, Norway, The Netherlands and Middle East countries, and we have launched the Boots Laboratories product brands in Italy and Spain.

"More than ever, our aim is to make it global in the coming years."