PALM BEACH, Fla. – Rick Gates, senior vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Walgreens, stepped onto the stage for his inaugural address as chair of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), urging the pharmacy industry to unite and accelerate its transformation. Speaking during the Tuesday Business Program at the 2025 NACDS Annual Meeting, Gates delivered a message rooted in both the proud history and the future promise of pharmacy, emphasizing the urgent need for the industry to speak and act with one voice to drive meaningful change.
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Gates accepted the NACDS chair’s gavel from outgoing chair Kevin Host, senior vice president of pharmacy at Walmart, and reflected on his own journey from a small-town pharmacy cashier to industry leader. “If we want to move forward — and I mean truly move forward — we have to do it together. Independent, chain, grocery, mass — whatever your corner of the world looks like, we’re stronger when we speak as one industry… one voice,” Gates told the audience.
The Tuesday Business Program lineup also included Amanda Coussoule, U.S. chief customer officer at Kenvue, and Nicholas Burns, former U.S. Ambassador to China and former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, underscoring NACDS’ commitment to bringing together diverse leaders and perspectives to tackle the most pressing challenges in healthcare and pharmacy today. Kenvue supported this morning’s Business Program. Similarly, Haleon supported Sunday’s Business Program.
Gates laid out three pillars guiding his chairmanship: accelerating modernization, elevating pharmacy, and driving unified advocacy. He spoke candidly about the need for urgent innovation, noting, “Pharmacies can no longer simply dispense drugs; we must become comprehensive health and wellness destinations that balance offering personalized, in-person care and front of store needs while offering the convenience of digital-forward solutions… Together, we’ve got a real opportunity to reimagine the retail pharmacy model, so it’s better for our customers, our teams and our communities.”
Turning to the heart of pharmacy’s impact, Gates highlighted the vital role of retail pharmacists and the need to strengthen ties between academia and industry. “Most of us got into pharmacy because someone in our hometown pharmacy made an impact,” Gates said. “They helped our grandparents, gave us advice when we were sick, or just made us feel like someone had our back. That’s the heart of what we all do.”
Adressing the advocacy front, Gates challenged the industry to demand fair policy and reimbursement reform. “If we really want to unlock the full potential of pharmacy, we need federal policy reform that finally recognizes the value we deliver. Because the truth is, retail pharmacies are uniquely positioned to drive better health outcomes,” Gates stated.
Closing with a rallying cry for unity and boldness, Gates inspired attendees to seize the opportunity before them. “We’ve got work to do. But I truly believe that if we stay united …. no matter your corner of the industry… independent, chain, mass, grocery, CPG, Pharma, if we act together, modernize together and innovate together — we will not just weather this storm. We’ll define what comes next. Let’s be bold. Let’s be united. Let’s get after it,” Gates said.
