DEERFIELD, Ill. — Chong Bang, Walgreen Co.’s general merchandise manager for photo and front-end services and the latest executive to oversee implementation of the company’s Customer-Centric Retailing (CCR) initiative, plans to leave the company later this month.

He is joining Canadian chain Shoppers Drug Mart as senior vice president of merchandising.

Bang, whose last day at Walgreens will be December 18, joined the nation’s largest drug chain in 2004 as category manager in the purchasing department and was named divisional merchandise manager of consumables in 2005.

In 2007 he was promoted to divisional vice president and general merchandise manager of health and wellness. He assumed his current position earlier this year.

Before joining the drug store chain, Bang spent 20 years at Kmart Corp. and Eckerd Corp.

A Walgreens spokeswoman says Bang’s departure will not affect the company’s plans to continue to roll out CCR to additional markets in 2010. Started as a pilot in 35 stores earlier this year, the concept is now in place in nearly 400 outlets in Houston and Dallas.

“We appreciate everything he has done for Walgreens, and we wish him and his family the very best,” the spokeswoman says.