LANGLEY, British Columbia — After almost a year without a chief executive officer, Pharmasave Drugs has named former grocery executive Carmen Churcott as its CEO.

Churcott, who spent the previous 15 years with Over­waitea Food Group and was most recently that company’s vice president of e-commerce, technology and communications, took the reins at the 485-store chain on May 1.

She succeeds Pharmasave chief financial officer Zvonko Maretic, who had been serving as interim CEO since Sue Paish left the company at the end of May 2012 to take the top job at the laboratory testing services provider LifeLabs Inc.

“Pharmasave is an impressive combination of a strong national Pharmasave brand and the independent spirit of community-focused entrepreneurs,” Churcott says. “I am looking forward to harnessing the creativity across the country by building on the great work already done and delivering even greater member value and growing Pharmasave.”

In her decade and a half with Overwaitea Food Group, Churcott served in a variety of roles in various disciplines. In 2012 she was named as one of Canadian Grocer’s “Star Women of Grocery.”

“We are impressed by Carmen’s enthusiasm and her demonstrated willingness to take on tough leadership challenges,” Pharmasave national board chairman Gary Utter says. “Her strong communication skills and collaborative approach, along with her comprehensive retail experience, are the combination needed to lead Pharmasave to continued success.”