Robbie Turner, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s director of pharmacy and membership experience, has “decided” to leave the organisation, it has been confirmed.

In a statement last night, RPS chief executive Paul Bennett announced that Mr Turner “has decided to leave his role” and that his last day will be March 31.

He added: “Please join me in wishing Robbie all the best for the future and thanking him for his excellent work since joining the organisation.”

Mr Turner began working with the RPS in 2017, having previously held the position of chief executive at Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire.

This follows the revelation, first broken by Pharmacy Network News, that the RPS was planning to make Mr Turner redundant alongside Gail Fleming, the Society’s director of education and CPD.

When the revelations emerged, the RPS said it was proposing changes to its executive structure and that a final decision on the two roles had not yet been made.

Last night’s statement did not shed any light on Ms Fleming’s future within the organisation. Mr Bennett told members: “Once any changes to the executive team are agreed, you have my full commitment that we will update everyone on how any changes to our structure enable us to deliver our Royal Charter obligations and our five-year strategy.”

The RPS has received widespread criticism for the redundancy plan and for a perceived lack of transparency around decisions that could affect its offering to members.

Responding to last night’s statement, former chief pharmaceutical officer for England Keith Ridge said it was “odd” that the RPS described it as a decision on Mr Turner’s part: “I thought it was a restructure and therefore redundancy matter?”

Mr Ridge has written for CIG publications in recent weeks expressing his concern around the Society’s direction of travel, particularly a possible decision to axe the role of education director.