Walgreens set to change operational structure

Following Walgreens' announcement last week about taking the next step in acquiring Alliance Boots, Alex Gourlay, EVP Walgreens Boots Alliance and president of Walgreens, announced changes in the company's operational organization structure in a letter to Walgreens employees.



Mark Wagner, currently president of community management and store operations, will take on a new role as president of business operations. In this new role, Mark will be responsible for creating a customer-focused organization that supports Walgreens' stores, eliminates waste and simplifies the work flow.



Brad Fluegel, currently SVP and chief strategy officer, will become SVP chief strategy and business development officer. He will continue to lead strategy for Walgreens and expand his responsibilities to include developing and implementing Walgreens' healthcare clinic, clinical office and healthcare innovation strategies.



And Richard Ashworth will be returning from Alliance Boots in a new role as president of retail and pharmacy operations. He will assume responsibility for the field organization to implement a single customer plan and deliver customer care through Walgreens' community locations.



Sona Chawla, president and digital and chief marketing officer, will continue in that role.



"I will continue to lead our merchandising team while we search for a new leader for the daily living organization," Gourlay wrote. "All of these proposed new roles and titles are subject to approval by the board of directors and will be effective as of Sept. 1," he said.



"I look forward to bringing together this talented team and continuing to work with Greg [Wasson] and the rest of our business partners across Walgreens," Gourlay added. "Looking to the future, we need to stay focused on our customers and patients because that’s what has made Walgreens the great business and brand that it is today. To continue to move forward, we will need to call on the company’s historic strengths — pharmacy-led, customer-driven, with a commitment to each other and a focus on care and service."