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DEERFIELD, Ill. — Bryan Pugh, who for the past year has held a key role at Walgreen Co. coordinating operations and merchandising functions, has left the company.
Bryan Pugh, who for the past year has held a key role at Walgreen Co. coordinating operations and merchandising functions, has left the company.
A Walgreens spokesman confirmed that Pugh departed last week. Most recently, he held the title of vice president of U.S. merchandising, program development and execution.
That position was created about a year ago and included responsibility for overseeing the rollout of new merchandising initiatives to the field and flagship rollouts, among other merchandising functions.
"Bryan has been a respected and committed executive of the company for the past six years, and we want to thank him for all he’s done to enable our front-end strategy during that time," the Walgreens spokesman said. "As our business strategy has evolved, we all agreed it was the right time for Bryan to look for other opportunities. He is highly thought of by his colleagues at Walgreens, the supplier community and the entire industry."
Pugh joined Walgreens in early 2009 as vice president of format development after spending several years in Asia as a top executive for Tesco and CP Group of Cos., which was founded by former Sam’s Club chief executive officer Alvin Johnson. Shortly after coming to Walgreens, Pugh was named the chain’s top merchant, with the title of vice president of merchandising.
As it moves ahead with its partnership with Alliance Boots, Walgreens has made a series of changes to the management team that will run the combined company when the acquisition closes, as expected, in early 2015.
Prior to joining the headquarters’ team at Walgreens, Pugh was the head of operations for Tesco’s U.S. rollout of Fresh & Easy small/grocery convenience stores in select West Coast markets, including Southern California.
Earlier this year, Pugh received the first Retail Achievement award presented by Mass Market Retailers, Chain Drug Review‘s sister publication, to recognize his career, both for its longevity and its accomplishments.
At that time, he noted that he had a strong team around at him Walgreens "that combines the veteran group that has built Walgreens into this incredible retailer with some newcomers who have brought new ideas, new thinking and new ways of approaching the business."
