DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreens has named Kim L. Feil to the new position of vice president and chief marketing officer, reporting to president Greg Wasson. Feil will lead a new marketing organization responding to the evolving needs of Walgreens customers and pharmacy patients.
"Under Kim's direction, our marketing folks will enhance the in-store customer experience and create stronger connections to our online offerings and Take Care Clinic services," said Wasson. "Kim brings a strong consumer research and marketing background to us at a time when deep understanding of customers is critical. [image-nocss] From her previous experience, she offers a valuable and unique perspective in collecting and leveraging consumer insights."
Feil has 25 years of experience in marketing, sales and strategic planning. Previously, she was senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Sara Lee North America, a $4.5 billion division of Sara Lee Corp. While there, she led a food and beverage marketing transformation that revitalized the company's brand portfolio and built a new marketing organization. She joined Sara Lee in 2005 from Kimberly-Clark Corp., where she served as vice president and senior marketing officer. In that role, Feil implemented the company's brand equity management process and aligned all marketers under the program.
Feil also spent seven years at Information Resources Inc. (IRI) and nine years at Cadbury Schweppes PLC. Her early career included marketing positions at Pepsico Inc.
"As the baby boom generation moves into its retirement years, everyone today is experiencing health and wellness challenges for themselves or those close to them," said Feil. "Walgreens is right there as a convenient, accessible resource to guide them. I'm excited to bring my vendor experience and new marketing ideas to build on an already trusted and positive brand."
Walgreens also announced that George J. Riedl, executive vice president of marketing, has been named executive vice president of merchandising. Riedl will continue overseeing pharmaceutical purchasing, front-end purchasing and merchandising, marketing services and research, global sourcing and retail concept innovation.
In addition, Riedl will oversee the company's new customer-centric retailing project. "This initiative will leverage consumer insights and data gathered by Walgreens and our strategic vendors to reorient the store experience around the customer and create merchandising solutions that make our stores easier and more convenient to shop," said Wasson.
Walgreens is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2008 sales of $59 billion. The company operates 6,443 drugstores in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens "provides the most convenient access to consumer goods and cost-effective health care services in America" through its retail drugstores, Walgreens Health Services division and Walgreens Health and Wellness division, it said.
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