TORONTO — Duane Reade pharmacy chief Frank Scorpiniti has been appointed chief operating officer at Katz Group Canada Ltd., operator of Canada’s Rexall drug store chain.

Frank Scorpiniti

Katz said Wednesday that Scorpiniti will oversee Rexall’s retail operations as well as the company’s Drug Trading Company Ltd. and Medicine Shoppe Canada Inc. units.

Formerly senior vice president of pharmacy operations at New York-based Duane Reade, which last spring was acquired by Walgreen Co., Scorpiniti has more than 20 years of retail pharmacy experience. Before joining Duane Reade, he held positions of increasing responsibility at Longs Drug Stores, which is now part of CVS Caremark Corp. He began his career as a pharmacist.

"Frank is a strategic thinker who has a passion for the retail pharmacy industry and a proven ability to drive growth and performance within an organization," Andy Giancamilli, chief executive officer of Katz Group Canada, said in a statement. "We are confident that Frank’s leadership and experience will help enhance the customer experience across our network of corporate, franchise and banner pharmacies."

Also on Wednesday, Katz named Warren Jeffery as chief development officer, a role that he will add to his current post as interim chief merchandising officer. Reporting directly to Giancamilli, Jeffery will lead the company’s productivity and growth initiatives, according to Katz.

Overall, Katz has more than 1,800 chain, franchise and independent pharmacies across Canada under the banners Rexall, Rexall Pharma Plus, The Medicine Shoppe, Guardian and I.D.A. The company’s holdings also include Rexall Specialty Pharmacy, Rexall Direct, Rexall Health Services and ProPharm Ltd.