Brewer Steps Down As CEO Of Walgreens

DEERFIELD, IL — Two years ago, Rosalind Brewer made history for Walgreens Boots Alliance by becoming the pharmacy giant's first Black and first female chief executive officer ever. On Friday, the parent company of Walgreens announced a mutual agreement for Brewer to step away from the position.

Brewer will also step down as a WBA Board of Directors member, according to a news release from the company.

"On behalf of the entire Board, I would like to thank Roz for her contributions to WBA," Stefano Pessina, executive chairman of WBA, said in a statement. "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."

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With Brewer's departure, the WBA board appointed Ginger Graham, current lead independent director of WBA, as interim CEO. The company said Brewer has agreed to continue to advise WBA while the Company conducts a search for a permanent CEO.

Brewer, a former CEO at Starbucks, took over at WBA in March 2021, just as COVID-19 vaccines were becoming available in the United States and at Walgreens stores across the country. To date, WBA has delivered over 70 million vaccine shots, according to the company.

Walgreens Boot Alliance oversees 9,277 Walgreens and Duane Reade stores in the U.S.