Coleman to take on front store, chief merchant roles.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health said Saturday that Judy Sansone, the company’s senior vice president of front store business and chief merchant, has decided to retire in September.

Judy Sansone

Sansone’s career at CVS spans 42 years and the company said she has played a critical role in many of the company’s most transformative moments. She played a leadership role in CVS’ decision to stop selling tobacco, she was influential in the modernization of ExtraCare and the move into AI-driven personalization, and her vision was critical as CVS reimagined its stores and the e-commerce experience to evolve into a health and beauty destination.  Most recently, Sansone played an important role within the enterprise bringing the HealthHUBs store format from concept to reality.

George Coleman has been tapped to succeed Sansone as senior vice president of front store business and chief merchant. Coleman joined CVS Health in 2012 as vice president of merchandising, and has assumed the role of senior vice president of merchandising last January. Prior to joining CVS Health, Coleman was a partner with Accenture’s  retail strategy consulting practice for over 15 years. He also spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa after earning his undergraduate degree with honors at Indiana University and his MBA from The Wharton School.

In this new role, Coleman will continue to oversee CVS’ front store business for stores and e-commerce, and will assume responsibility for the company’s retail growth strategy, ExtraCare and personalization,  retail formats as well as for innovation and partnerships.