Former Walmart executive and Starbucks COO Roz Brewer took over as Walgreens Boots Allilance’s CEO in March 2021. The company’s lead independent director is William C. Foote, former chairman and CEO of USG Corporation, a building materials manufacturer. Stefano Pessina, the company’s former CEO, is the current executive chairman.
Walgreens earns the No. 3 spot on the strength of high scores for board independence, age dispersion, ESG, and having senior independent nonexecutive directors. (A nonexecutive director is a board member who is not currently serving as an executive at the company. Having a high percentage of nonexecutives on the board is considered a best practice, according to Diligent, because it’s easier for such directors to offer objective advice to the management team.)
Walgreens has won over some analysts and investors with a long-term strategy that includes investment in primary-care clinics, a move meant to increase convenience for customers and further expand the company’s role beyond retail and pharmacy services. The two other former CEOs on the Walgreens board reflect key areas in which its business is focused. Ginger L. Graham is the former president and CEO of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, and Nancy M. Schlichting is the former CEO of the Henry Ford Health System. Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017, is also a director.
Company information
| Country | U.S. |
| Headquarters | Deerfield, Ill. |
| CEO | Roz Brewer |
| No. of employees | 258,500 |
| Sector | Consumer Staples |
| Sub-sector | Food and Staples Retailing |
| Web address | www.walgreensbootsalliance.com |