Orr to lead connected health efforts with Pellegrini's exit

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens is promoting Greg Orr to vice president of digital health, taking over from Adam Pellegrini, who is leaving the company to join Fitbit Inc.

Greg Orr

A Walgreens spokeswoman confirmed late Wednesday that Orr, currently senior director of digital health, will assume the new role effective Sept. 1.

Orr joined Walgreens as director of consumer digital health in December 2013 and was named senior director of digital health in April 2015.

He came to the company from Las Vegas-based digital health and wellness specialist SocialWellth, where he was senior director of solutions design and, before that, vice president of customer experience.

Orr had previously served in a variety of roles over a 10-year span at WorldDoc, a provider of consumer care solutions that in early 2012 became SocialWellth.

Activity tracking device maker Fitbit said Monday that Pellegrini is slated to start at the company as vice president of digital health on Sept. 6. He had joined Walgreens as vice president of digital health in June 2013 from SocialWellth, where he was chief marketing officer.

Walgreens has become a significant player in the connected health arena. The drug chain has been actively integrating its mobile apps and Balance Rewards for Healthy Choices loyalty program, which rewards members for healthy behaviors, with a wide range of health- and wellness-focused apps, wearables and biometric devices, as well as providing access to wellness resources and content. Those efforts have included partnerships with Qualcomm Life and WebMD.

In addition, Walgreens has enabled virtual doctor visits with the rollout of telehealth services, also connected to its mobile app, in a partnership with MDLive.