Walgreens Gets Customer-Responsive with New CMO

Walgreens, the largest drugstore chain in the US, has appointed Kim L. Feil in the new role of VP and Chief Marketing Officer, at the head of a new-look marketing setup designed to help the company respond to the evolving needs of its customers and pharmacy patients.

Feil has 25 years' experience in marketing, sales and strategic planning, including seven years at research giant Information Resources, Inc. Since 2005 she has worked as Senior VP and CMO at Sarah Lee North America, helping to revitalise its brand portfolio and building a new marketing organization. Before this she worked at Kimberly-Clark Corp. as VP and Senior Marketing Officer. In addition to IRI, her earlier career included a nine-year stint at Cadbury Schweppes PLC and time at Pepsico, Inc.

In her new role she reports to President Greg Wasson, who comments: 'Kim brings a strong consumer research and marketing background to us at a time when deep understanding of customers is critical. From her previous experience, she offers a valuable and unique perspective in collecting and leveraging consumer insights.'

The firm also announced a move for Executive VP of Marketing George J. Riedl, to Executive VP of Merchandising. Riedl will continue with his current roles which include responsibility for MR, front-end purchasing and merchandising and retail concept innovation; and will add oversight of the company's new customer-centric retailing project, which aims to use consumer insights and data to 'reorient the store experience around the customer and create merchandising solutions that make our stores easier and more convenient to shop' according to Wasson.

Deerfield, IL-based Walgreens had fiscal 2008 sales of $59bn and operates 6,443 drugstores in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Web site: www.walgreens.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.