Walgreens CEO Rosalind Brewer Steps Down

Walgreen Boots Alliance (WBA) CEO Rosalind Brewer has stepped down, effective immediately, the company said Friday. The Deerfield, IL-based pharmacy chain has named Ginger Graham, lead independent director, as interim CEO.

Although the reasons for Brewer’s departure are not clear, WBA said she and the company had “mutually agreed” on her leaving. Brewer joined the company two-and-a-half years ago, just as COVID-19 vaccines were becoming available to the American people.

In October 2021, Brewer and her team began pivoting WBA toward a healthcare model. However, Crain’s Chicago Business reported that the transition hasn’t been successful to date; WBA’s stock is down 28% this year.

WBA executive chairman Stefano Pessina said in a statement, “On behalf of the entire Board, I would like to thank Roz for her contributions to WBA. Roz navigated the company through the global pandemic, overseeing the critical rollout of vaccines in Walgreens pharmacies and to high-risk populations across the country. She furthered our consumer facing capabilities while supporting the culture of community and team-member engagement in difficult times. We appreciate her hard work and commitment to the company during this period of unprecedented change.”