Key merchandising exec leaving Walgreens

New York City In a major management shift within its merchandising team, Walgreens Thursday confirmed that David Van Howe, corporate VP new business development, would leave the company at the end of the calendar year “to pursue other opportunities.”

Van Howe’s pending departure from one of the nation’s top drug chains had been rumored for several days, but Walgreens remained mum about its plans since the beginning of the week. According to company spokesman Michael Polzin, Van Howe’s duties “will transition to several other individuals in the company.”

Van Howe was a key decision-maker in Walgreens’ evolving front-end strategy since he joined the company in 2000.