DEERFIELD, Ill. — Steve Pemberton has been named divisional vice president of diversity and inclusion at Walgreen Co.

In this role, he also becomes the company’s first chief diversity officer.

Pemberton, who reports to senior vice president and chief human resources officer Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, is responsible for ensuring that Walgreens demonstrates cultural and workforce diversity.

He will direct activities that help serve diverse markets and populations, with a focus on customers in medically underserved areas, food deserts and urban areas. In addition, Pemberton will help strengthen relationships with diverse suppliers and communities.

“Diversity and inclusion are embedded in our DNA at Walgreens — no other drug store retailer serves more communities,” says Wilson-Thompson. “With Steve’s drive, impressive background and insight, we are confident he and his team will build upon the philosophy that diversity is less about what you look like but more about what you think.”

Pemberton spent seven years with Monster.com, where most recently he was chief diversity officer and vice president of diversity and inclusion. Before that, he was co-president, co-founder and chief operating officer of Road to College, which is described as the first Web-based admissions counseling service in the country. Earlier in his career he was senior assistant director of multicultural admissions at Boston College.

Walgreens, which operates more than 7,700 drug stores, generated sales of $67 billion in fiscal 2010.