WBA's Gourlay takes the reins as NACDS chairman

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced new officers, a new executive committee member and two new board members for the 2017-18 term.

NACDS said Monday that Alex Gourlay, co-chief operating officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance, was elected chairman of the NACDS board of directors at the 2017 NACDS Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Alex Gourlay

Gourlay takes the reins as NACDS chairman from Martin Otto, chief merchant and chief financial officer at H-E-B, who completed his term.

Mark Panzer, senior vice president of pharmacy, health and wellness at Albertsons Cos., was elected NACDS vice chairman, and Helena Foulkes, executive vice president of CVS Health and president of CVS Pharmacy, was named NACDS treasurer. Each officer will serve a one-year term. Foulkes also was elected to the NACDS Executive Committee.

Elected to serve three-year terms on the NACDS board were Brian Nightengale, president of Good Neighbor Pharmacy, and Michael Bloom, chief executive officer of Fred’s Pharmacy.

“We are delighted to welcome Alex as chairman of the NACDS board of directors,” NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson said in a statement. “Alex has been highly effective as an NACDS officer, including his dedicated involvement in the NACDS RxIMPACT grassroots advocacy program and his engagement on behalf of his company and on behalf of the industry at NACDS meetings and conferences throughout the year. He is highly engaged in the important work of advancing issues of importance to NACDS chain and associate members alike, and we value his leadership.”