DEERFIELD, Ill. — Pharmaceutical industry veteran Jeffrey Berkowitz has joined Walgreen Co. as senior vice president of pharmaceutical development and market access. He reports to Kermit Crawford, president of Walgreens’ pharmacy services division.

Berkowitz will be responsible for the overall pharmacy contracting strategy for the company on the pharmaceutical manufacturing and the retail payer sides.

As a member of the senior management team, he assumes leadership for identifying and cultivating strategic external relationships and oversees key initiatives with pharmaceutical manufacturers that will add to the company’s growth.

“As we continue our efforts to transform community pharmacy, Jeff will play a vital role in working with our partners in the pharmaceutical industry and across the entire health care sector to develop strategies in collaboration with our sales and services organization that will provide better adherence and clinical outcomes for patients,” says Crawford.

“In addition, Jeff’s exceptional experience, expertise and track record of growth and success in the pharmaceutical industry will be important to further enhancing our pharmacy, health and wellness solutions.”

Berkowitz was most recently senior vice president of global market access for Merck & Co. In that role he was a member of Merck’s global human health leadership team. His group was accountable for all activity related to such areas as access, pricing, payer marketing and health outcomes.