DEERFIELD, Ill. — The agreement that put Walgreen Co. and Alliance Boots on the road to an eventual merger had its origin in a global tour of innovative retailing formats undertaken by Walgreens’ management team. At the suggestion of executive vice president/chief financial officer and president of international Wade Miquelon, vice president and chief merchandising
LONDON — There is no one architect behind the merger of Walgreen Co. and Alliance Boots. But if there were, it would be Stefano Pessina. Pessina is the executive chairman of Alliance Boots, a position he has held since 2007. In that role he oversees global wholesaling and retailing operations for a $36 billion company
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. has reconfigured its management team to help it better handle its new status as a global company. In the wake of its acquisition of 45% of Alliance Boots earlier this year, giving it a stake in the London-based retailer and pharmaceutical wholesaler that has operations in more than 25 countries,
NEW YORK — The rewards war is on. On the heels of Walgreen Co.’s launch of the Balance Rewards customer loyalty program, CVS/pharmacy has stepped up its ExtraCare rewards. The move by CVS also comes as Rite Aid Corp. enhances its wellness+ program. Through December 15, ExtraCare members can double their quarterly ExtraBucks Rewards by
SAN FRANCISCO — Mark Walchirk has been named president of McKesson U.S. Pharmaceutical, the largest operating unit of McKesson Corp. Walchirk, who was most recently chief operating officer of McKesson Specialty Health, has held numerous leadership roles at the company for the last 11 years, including that of chief operating officer of McKesson U.S. Pharmaceutical.
SAN FRANCISCO — McKesson Corp.’s Health Mart franchised drug chain has named former Medco Health Solutions executive Stephen Courtman as its new president. The announcement late last month that Courtman would succeed Tim Canning as Health Mart president coincided with the company marking the opening of its 3,000th member pharmacy. Canning left Health Mart in
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — Patient satisfaction with mail-order pharmacies continues to decline, according to the latest survey by J.D. Power and Associates. Overall satisfaction with brick-and-mortar pharmacies, meanwhile, has held steady. The 2012 edition of the J.D. Power and Associates U.S. Pharmacy Study showed that overall satisfaction with mail-order pharmacies fell to 792 (on a
LIVONIA, Mich. — Rite Aid Corp. has entered a multiyear partnership with Valassis to develop and execute in-store marketing and media programs. According to Valassis, a marketing and media services firm based here, the agreement will enable Rite Aid to create a consistent look for its in-store marketing and media programs, aligning them with the
MONTREAL — Uniprix is celebrating its 35th year in business with a series of promotions, including a first-of-its-kind panoramic insert and a special anniversary magazine. This fall the Quebec drug chain will offer a range of anniversary pricing. It also has launched a major promotion in partnership with TVA and the popular television show “On
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark Corp. has named Thomas Moriarty executive vice president and general counsel. Moriarty, 49, most recently served as general counsel at Celgene Corp., a biopharmaceutical company, where he was responsible for global legal strategy and served on the management committee. Prior to that he was general counsel and corporate secretary at
PHILADELPHIA — Perspectives on the financial future of the pharmaceutical industry, an examination of trends that are impacting clinical decisions and a discussion about the effects of health care reform were among topics addressed at AmerisourceBergen Corp.’s ThinkLive Manufacturer Summit that was held here last month. Larry Marsh, managing director of Barclays Capital, offered his
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The newfound assertiveness of the pharmacy industry is peaking with the imminence of the presidential election. With the hotly contested vote less than a month away, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ grassroots advocacy program — NACDS RxIMPACT — is aggressively promoting community pharmacy. The NACDS RxIMPACT Pharmacy Tour program is
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is partnering with health insurer Humana to encourage people to eat better by offering savings on healthful food. The program continues an effort the retailer initiated in January 2011, when it committed to support first lady Michelle Obama’s drive to make healthier food affordable and accessible. Some leading drug chains have
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Retired Gen. Colin Powell, former U.S. secretary of state and former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, is scheduled to serve as keynote speaker for the 2012 NACDS Foundation Dinner. The dinner will be held on November 27 in New York. “Gen. Powell’s insights as a public servant — as a
