- After less than two and a half years in the position
- Praise and thanks for Brewer
- Ginger Graham taking over temporarily
- Search for a successor
- Brewer spoke at length and said 142 words
(exechange) — Deerfield, Illinois, September 1, 2023 — Roz Brewer, chief executive of Walgreens, leaves her position — as “mutually agreed.” As announced by Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. in a news release and in a regulatory filing published on Friday, September 1, 2023, Rosalind G. (Roz) Brewer has left her post as chief executive officer at the pharmacy operator, after less than two and a half years in the role, effective August 31, 2023.
Generally speaking, it raises questions when a CEO leaves her post abruptly and after a short tenure.
Walgreens will undertake a search for a successor.
Roz Brewer’s duties as CEO will be taken over temporarily by Ginger Graham, most recently Lead Independent Director at Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., as interim Chief Executive Officer.
“Drive shareholder value creation”
Walgreens did not give an explicit reason for Roz Brewer’s departure from the CEO post. Graham stated: “My focus will be on our people and our operations, working together to drive shareholder value creation and ensuring a smooth transition as soon as we identify the next CEO for the future.”
Precise information regarding Roz Brewer’s future plans was not immediately available.
“Step down”
Walgreens said: “[T]he Board of Directors and Rosalind Brewer have mutually agreed that Ms. Brewer will step down as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and as a member of the Board, as of August 31, 2023.”
Share price decline since March 2021
The announcement follows a decline in Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.’s share price of 47% since March 2021. March 2021 is the month in which Brewer’s tenure as CEO began.
In the position of CEO since 2021
Roz Brewer became CEO of the Company in 2021.
Her bio reads as follows:
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
- Chief Executive Officer and Director (since March 2021)
Spelman College
- Chairperson, Board of Trustees
Starbucks Corporation, a global food and beverage company
- Director (March 2017-February 2021)
- Group President, Americas and Chief Operating Officer (October 2017-February 2021)
Walmart Inc., a global retailer
- President and Chief Executive Officer, Sam’s Club (February 2012-February 2017)
- Executive Vice President and President, East Business Unit (February 2011-January 2012)
- Executive Vice President and President, Walmart South (February 2010-February 2011)
- Senior Vice President and Division President, Southeast Operating Division (March 2007-January 2010)
- Regional General Manager, Georgia Operations (2006-February 2007)
Kimberly-Clark Corporation, a global health and hygiene products company
- President, Global Nonwovens Division (2004-2006)
- Various management positions (1984-2006).
142 words by Roz Brewer
In the release announcing her departure as CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., Roz Brewer received praise and thanks.
In announcing her departure, Roz Brewer spoke at length and said 142 words.
“Transformation”
Roz Brewer stated: “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to lead Walgreens Boots Alliance and to work alongside such talented and dedicated colleagues. I am proud of what we accomplished together. We’ve improved the lives of our employees, expanded healthcare services for our customers and enhanced our ability to deliver on our purpose of ‘more joyful lives through better health.’ Over the past several years, we have recruited a world class team to WBA, including the first-ever Chief Customer Officer and the first-ever President of U.S. Healthcare, and invested deeply in the improvement of the Company’s overall culture. I am confident that WBA is on track to be a leading consumer-centric healthcare company, serving thousands of communities across the country, especially those that need access to healthcare the most. I look forward to watching the Company continue its transformation to deliver localized healthcare.”
Push-out Score for Roz Brewer’s move determined
The Push-out Score indicates on a scale of 0 to 10 how likely it is that Roz Brewer was pushed out or felt pressure to leave her position.
exechange reached out to Walgreens and offered the company the opportunity to comment on the score.
Read the full story in the exechange report 36.2023 ($).