Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has named Starbucks COO and former Sam’s Club President and CEO Rosalind (Roz) Brewer as CEO, effective March 15, 2021. Brewer also will join the retailer’s Board of Directors upon assuming the role. She succeeds current CEO Stefano Pessina, who will transition to the role of Executive Chairman of the Board.
In her new role, Brewer will leverage her experience in strategic development, marketing, digital transformation, loyalty, innovation and technology, supply chain and store development to develop WBA’s operations. She will draw upon her time at Starbucks, where she helped the company accelerate its growth strategy, and Sam’s Club, where she amplified the use of digital technology to enable a seamless shopping experience at scale.
Prior to joining Sam’s Club, Brewer was Regional VP and later President of Walmart East — making her the first woman and first African-American to lead a Walmart division. She also worked as a scientist and eventually President of the Global Nonwovens Sector at Kimberly-Clark Corp.
“The board conducted an extensive search to identify an exceptional leader who will build on WBA’s track record of success and take advantage of the many growth opportunities in many markets across the company. We are excited to have found that person in Roz,” said Pessina. “She is a distinguished and experienced executive who has led organizations globally through periods of changing consumer behavior by applying innovation that elevates customer experiences — ultimately driving significant and sustainable growth and value creation.”
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