Personnel Updates:
H. D. Smith announced that Dave Watkins, CFO, will leave the company to join Chicago Public Schools as its new CFO, effective 11-7-2011.
Walgreens announced three new general merchandise managers and areas of responsibility: Steve Broughton, food, beverages and household consumables; Shannon Curtin (formerly Petree), beauty, personal care and seasonal; and Robert Tompkins, health and wellness, front-end services and general merchandise. All three continue to report to VP merchandising/chief merchandising officer Bryan Pugh. As part of the moves, Frank Grilli will now lead the expansion of the company’s regional buying program as divisional VP/GMM for regional procurement. In his new role, Grilli reports to Mark Scharbo, VP inventory strategy, as will Steve Lubin, divisional VP/GMM for non-mainland sourcing. In addition, it was announced that Magnacca’s leadership team had been expanded to include Moe Alkemade as VP retail brands and global sourcing, and Rachel Bishop as VP daily living strategy and business development
CVS Caremark announced that Judy Strauss Sansone will lead CVS’ merchandising team, the company announced Monday, naming the 30-year CVS veteran SVP merchandising. In addition, the company also announced that Robert Price, chief marketing officer, would take on an expanded role in the areas of retail innovation and store design. Lastly, Scott Baker, EVP internal operations, real estate and supply chain, also will take on the added responsibilities of inventory management and logistics. In his new role, Baker will provide senior-level support for inventory management and product flow in partnership with the merchandising and pharmacy teams, the company noted. Baker also will continue to have oversight of real estate, construction and facilities, and front store operations.
Rite Aid launched a new photo website designed for customers to order prints, photo books, calendars and a wide range of photo gifts to any mailing address. Select prints and photo greeting cards are also available for pick-up at any of the 4,700 Rite Aid locations nationwide.
Walgreen Co. is rolling out upscale beauty boutiques inside select drugstores in a bid to attract more women and boost sales outside of the pharmacy. The in-store beauty concept, called Look Boutique, first opened two years ago at a Duane Reade drugstore in Manhattan. The in-store shop resembles a scaled-down Sephora with white display cases, modern fixtures and beauty advisers schooled in scores of lesser-known but higher-end cosmetic and skin-care lines.
