Walgreens shuffles executive ranks

Walgreens Boots Alliance is making a number of changes to its senior management roles and responsibilities as part of what the company is calling the “next phase of evolution.”



Alex Gourlay, executive VP of Walgreens Boots Alliance and president of Walgreens, and Ornella Barra, executive VP of Walgreens Boots Alliance and president and chief executive of global wholesale and international retail, have been appointed to the role of co-CEOs.



In his new role, Gourlay will oversee Walgreens and Boots. In addition to her current responsibilities, Barra will supervise global brands, HR and other business services. As a result, Ken Murphy, who becomes executive VP of Walgreens Boots Alliance and chief commercial officer and president of global brands, and Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, executive VP and global chief human resources officer, will report to her.



Separately, Simon Roberts, executive VP of Walgreens Boots Alliance and president of Boots, has decided at to pursue new opportunities and will leave the company in July 2016. Elizabeth Fagan, currently senior VP and MD international retail, is being appointed as senior VP and managing director of Boots.



“As we continue to work together to find simpler and more effective ways to manage our company, I believe this is the right structure at the right time,” said Jim Skinner, Walgreens Boots Alliance executive chairman. “The changes announced today will allow us to further enhance operating performance, while developing our company for the longer term. I want to congratulate Ornella and Alex on their extended responsibilities. We are very fortunate to have these two world-class corporate executives working together in a senior management team that is very well positioned to guide our businesses across the world through the changing landscape of healthcare.”