DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Bryan Pugh, vice president of U.S. merchandising, program development and execution at Walgreens, has left the company, according to a report by Drug Store News.
"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," Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens said in a statement obtained by the publication. "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, and we wish him all the best."
Among other initiatives, Pugh was responsible for Walgreens Well Experience store format, which aims to transform the traditional drugstore into a new health and daily living destination that offers a range of products and services to help customers get, stay and live well, according to a bio posted on Walgreens' website. These stores offer a new, enhanced layout, a completely revamped pharmacy and health care experience and a number of new product selections.
Prior to joining Walgreens in 2009, Pugh was vice president of operations for El Segundo, Calif.-based Tesco USA, where he designed the Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market store operations model and launched the retail small-format grocery chain on the West Coast.
Prior to his Tesco experience, Pugh spent six years with CP Group of Asia, opening hypermarkets in China and Thailand and having responsibility for all purchasing, including consumables, over-the-counter health and wellness, electronics, clothing and other categories. From 1985 to 1993, he worked for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., moving up from assistant store manager in the Sam's Club division to vice president of membership marketing.
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2014 sales of $76 billion, Walgreens offers convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. The company operates 8,207 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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