Walgreens taps Starbucks exec for new C-level store design role

Walgreens is creating a new executive position overseeing the development of store design and architecture.

The drugstore giant has named Min Cho as chief format concepts and design officer. He will officially join Walgreens at the end of August 2022, reporting to Walgreens president of retail products and chief customer officer Tracey Brown. In this newly created role and function, Cho will focus on new, innovative store design and architecture.

According to Walgreens, Cho will be a key player in developing how to bring its brand and values to life in its physical store spaces. He has extensive experience in architecture and design, and has spent most of his career working at retailers such as Nordstrom and Starbucks.

Most recently, Cho served as VP of global concepts in the growth and concepts organization at Starbucks, where he led the innovation for brand experience strategy for customers and employees, store design and construction, among other responsibilities to support the existing store portfolio and new stores.

“Our nearly 9,000 stores are a valuable asset and we must deliver a physical environment that leverages our stores and other locations as vehicles to communicate our company’s culture of caring to customers, patients and team members,” a Walgreens spokesperson said in an email to Chain Store Age.

Based in Deerfield, Ill., Walgreens operates more than 9,000 retail locations across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.