Walgreens Boots Alliance has hired Starbucks Corp. operating chief Rosalind Brewer as its next chief executive, according to sources close to the company.
Brewer will replace Stefano Pessina as the global drugstore chain’s top executive. Walgreens Tuesday evening wouldn’t confirm Brewer as the choice but sources elsewhere in the company said an announcement was imminent and several reports said she would be leaving Starbucks by March. Pessina, who is 79 years old, announced his plans to step down as CEO in July but will retain his title as executive chairman. Pessina, who is also Walgreens largest individual shareholder, was key to the selection of Brewer, a highly respected executive and hailed for turning around Starbucks by introducing new drinks and other products while upgrading the chain’s use of technology.
It was unclear when Brewer planned to takeover as CEO of Walgreens, which is the largest drugstore chain in the U.S. with more than 9,000 drugstores in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Starbucks told industry analysts Tuesday that Brewer “was leaving at the end of February for a new role at another public company,”In tapping Brewer, Walgreens will be getting a seasoned executive with retail experience. Brewer, who was also elevated to the Starbucks board of directors in March 2017, was president and CEO of Sam’s Club prior to her stint at the coffee chain.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.