Renz to head category management; Montini to retire

CAMP HILL, Pa. ­­— Rite Aid Corp. has announced a number of changes in senior management that are effective ­immediately.

Bill Renz, Rite Aid’s current group vice president of consumables and photo, has been named senior vice president of category management. Renz joined Rite Aid in 1998 as director of general merchandise and photo. He was promoted to vice president of general merchandise in 2000 and named to his current role in 2014. He will report to Bryan Everett, chief operating officer of Rite Aid stores.

Bill Renz

“Bill has worked in nearly every category of the retail drug store industry and has a tremendous ability to identify front-end items and product assortments that truly resonate with our valued customers,” said Everett.

In addition, Ted Williams, Rite Aid’s current vice president of general merchandise and seasonal, has been named group vice president of consumables, general merchandise and seasonal. Bryan Shirtliff, who currently leads the company’s merchandising efforts, has been named group vice president of health and beauty. Nate Newcomer, Rite Aid’s current vice president of category management support and front-end analysis, has been named group vice president of category management administration, financial analysis and replenishment. Williams, Shirtliff and Newcomer will report to Renz.

“These changes position Rite Aid for the future and support our efforts to deliver an outstanding experience in our stores,” said Everett. “Ted, Bryan and Nate have played a key role in the success of our company, and we look forward to benefiting from their expertise and knowledge in their new roles as we work to continue meeting the health and wellness needs of our customers and patients.”

Rite Aid also announced the retirement of Tony Montini, current executive vice president of merchandising and distribution, and Bill Bergin, current group vice president of health and beauty. Montini has served in his current role since 2011, after returning to the company in 2010 as senior vice president of category management. He also served as senior vice president of category management from 2002 through 2003 and as vice president of purchasing from 1987 through 1989. Bergin joined Rite Aid in 1999 and was named to his current role in 2009.

Tony Montini

Added Everett, “Tony has built a strong culture of speed, innovation and collaboration across his team that has driven positive results. Bill has also played a key role in the success of our company, both through his strong leadership and successful merchandising innovations that make many of our key health and beauty categories much easier to shop. We appreciate Tony and Bill’s many outstanding contributions to Rite Aid over their nearly 30 years of combined service, and wish them well with their future plans.”

Lastly, the company announced that Rob Mullins, Rite Aid’s current divisional pharmacy vice president of the company’s Western division, has been named senior vice president of store operations of the Western division. He succeeds Bill Romine, who is also retiring from Rite Aid after more than 20 years of service.

Mullins will report to Derek Griffith, Rite Aid executive vice president of store operations. He joined Rite Aid in 2000 and has held various pharmacy positions within the company.

Romine joined Rite Aid in 1996 with the company’s acquisition of the West Coast Thrifty-PayLess drug store chain. He has served Rite Aid in operations positions of increasing responsibility, including as district manager, regional vice president and vice president of merchandising operations for all of Rite Aid.

“Bill has made many significant contributions to our company throughout his career at Rite Aid, working tirelessly to establish Rite Aid as a leader in retail pharmacy. We would like to thank Bill for all he has done for Rite Aid, and we wish him the very best in retirement,” Everett concluded.