Walgreens Boots Alliance announces leadership appointments
Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Tim Wentworth today announced updates to WBA’s executive committee as the company advances a health services strategy rooted in its retail pharmacy footprint.
“Today’s announcement solidifies the leadership team that will carry WBA into its future as we look to expand our reach beyond neighborhood pharmacies into the fastest-growing areas of health care,” said Wentworth. “We have a strong team with a track record of operational excellence and an unwavering commitment to the execution of our goals. The spirit of this leadership team is one of collaboration, transparency and working effectively together. We share a sharp focus on the important goals in front of us, unlocking embedded profitability and reshaping our healthcare strategy to deliver sustainable value for our stakeholders.”
Wentworth, with the support of the WBA board of directors, has made the following leadership appointments:
Mary Langowski named executive vice president and president, U.S. Healthcare
Langowski brings experience that ranges from leading payer organizations, pharmacy, retail healthcare services and providers as well as senior roles in federal and state government.
She joins WBA after serving as CEO of Solera Health since 2020. Langowski was appointed CEO after serving as Solera Health’s independent board director. Prior to Solera, she served as executive vice president and chief strategy and corporate development officer at CVS Health, where she helped lead the foundational work for its healthcare services strategy and key aspects of CVS’ acquisition of Aetna.
Langowski served in both state and federal government in senior positions and has extensive policy experience, has created new healthcare payment models and designed and successfully advocated for several legislative and regulatory improvements to enable better healthcare innovation and value-based care.
As a partner in one of the largest law firms in the world, Langowski led the U.S. Health team and Global Food Sector, and advised multinational, F50 and emerging growth companies on M&A, IPO and global government strategies, including leading work on multiple high-profile healthcare services and pharmaceutical transactions.
Langowski will lead WBA’s U.S. Healthcare segment as Walgreens expands its role in health care.
[Read more: Walgreens names Tim Wentworth as next CEO]
Current executive vice president and president, U.S. Healthcare, John Driscoll, will transition to a senior advisory role working closely with Wentworth, Langowski and the U.S. Healthcare business.
Manmohan Mahajan appointed executive vice president and global chief financial officer
Mahajan has served as interim global CFO since July 2023 and has played an integral role in leading WBA’s growth and cost discipline efforts aimed at aligning the company’s cost structure with business performance. This includes a focused approach to increase cash flow across the company by lowering capital expenditures and keeping the company on pace toward $1 billion in cost savings this year.
He joined the company in 2016 and previously served as senior vice president, global controller and chief accounting officer. Before joining WBA, Mahajan served in positions of increasing responsibility with GE Capital, a former subsidiary of General Electric Company.
Elizabeth Burger named executive vice president and chief human resources officer
Prior to joining WBA, Burger served as senior vice president, CHRO at Flowserve. She formerly served as CHRO with Hanesbrands, and worked at Monsanto Company in various roles of increasing responsibility, including senior vice president of global business operations.
Langowski, Mahajan and Burger will report directly to Wentworth and join WBA’s current executive committee, which includes:
Ornella Barra, executive vice president and chief operating officer, International, WBA
Barra oversees WBA’s businesses outside of the United States, including Boots UK and other pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses in Europe, Latin America and Asia, as well as WBA’s pharmaceutical wholesale operation in Germany and the No7 Beauty Company. She is also chair of the Environmental, Social and Governance Committee.
[Read more: Walgreens Boots Alliance reportedly considering former Cigna executive Tim Wentworth for CEO]
Tracey Brown, executive vice president and president, Walgreens retail and chief customer officer
Brown is responsible for Walgreens $30 billion retail business and consumer experience across all retail, pharmacy and health consumer touchpoints and leads strategies to advance Walgreens across a complex and dynamic competitive landscape. She oversees more than 200,000 field and store operations team members, pharmacists, merchandising, marketing, product, digital, omnichannel, store format, data and analytics, asset protection, real estate and supply chain organizations. She has more than 30 years of experience driving business growth, operations, creating omnichannel customer experiences and leveraging digital capabilities to connect consumers and brands.
Neal Sample, executive vice president and chief information officer, WBA
Sample leads the strategy for WBA’s IT function and the implementation of its technology and digital innovation, with an emphasis on improving the digital experience for customers and patients. Sample joined the company in October of 2023, bringing more than 20 years of deep experience across highly regulated industries including healthcare, financial services and consumer internet.
Rick Gates, senior vice president and chief pharmacy officer, Walgreens
With more than 25 years of experience as a Walgreens pharmacist, Gates helps drive the company’s mission to evolve the future of pharmacy in health care and broaden pharmacy services. He and his team also play a critical role in aligning and advancing the Walgreens pharmacy and specialty pharmacy businesses across Walgreens, including the U.S. Healthcare business segment.
Beth Leonard, senior vice president and chief corporate affairs officer, WBA
Leonard oversees a combined corporate affairs team comprised of talented leaders who manage Walgreens Government Relations, Public Affairs and Corporate Communications functions. The team is responsible for communications with key Walgreens stakeholders including employees, media, industry partners and policymakers at the local, state and federal levels.
Matt D’ambrosio, senior vice president and global chief compliance and ethics officer, WBA
D’ambrosio will continue to serve as interim global chief legal officer. WBA expects to announce a permanent global chief legal officer by the end of February.
Each of the new executive xommittee members will assume their roles in March. All U.S.-based Executive Committee members will be based in the Chicagoland area.
“As I reflect on my first few months at WBA, what has impressed me most is the experience, talent and vision of our leaders and team members,” said Wentworth. “With the additions to our team, this Executive Committee brings proven leadership and deep experience in healthcare, culture and customer experience to accelerate our growth and lead the next chapter of our company for our team members, shareholders and most importantly the customers and patients we serve.”