On April 5, 2021, Walgreens CEO Roz Brewer stepped down after nearly two and a half years in the role. Brewer, who was the first Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company, was appointed to the role in September 2018.
Before joining Walgreens, she worked for nearly 20 years in a variety of roles at Starbucks. She earned her undergraduate degree from Alabama State University and her MBA from Northwestern University.
Her departure comes after an unusually challenging year for the company as the COVID-19 pandemic strained supply chains and changed consumer behavior. During her tenure, Brewer had worked to change the way Walgreens operated, making strategic changes to expand stores and services.
Kermit Crawford, Walgreens’ president of pharmacy, health and wellness, has been named the new CEO. Brewer will remain as a senior advisor to the board of directors through the end of 2021 and plans to pursue other opportunities.
