Longs Drug Stores reports exec changes

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. Longs Drug Stores today announced that Todd Vasos has been named evp and ccoo, effective immediately. He succeeds Karen Stout who has left the company. Vasos will be responsible for store operations, marketing, merchandising, construction and loss prevention.

Vasos joined Longs in 2001 as senior vp of marketing. He was named senior vp and chief merchandising officer in March of 2005. Immediately prior to joining Longs, Vasos was with the drug store chains, Phar-Mor from 1994 to 2001 and Eckerd Drug from 1983 to 1994.

Larry Gatta, group vp of marketing is being promoted to senior vp and chief merchandising officer. He joined Longs in 2002 as vp of marketing. With more than 25 years of retail marketing and merchandising experience, Gatta had worked for a number of retailers prior to joining Longs including Rite Aid, Phar-Mor and Giant Eagle/Tamco.

Linda Voracek, divisional merchandise manager responsible for cosmetics and toiletries is being promoted to vp of marketing and will be responsible for all front-end merchandise categories. Immediately prior to joining Longs in 2003 she was a category manager with Kmart for six years and had worked in product development for Shurfine for five years prior to joining Kmart.