Walgreen Co. (Deerfield, Ill.) said that current president Jeffrey Rein will also become ceo, effective July 12, 2006, at the time of the drugstore chain's next board of directors meeting.
Current ceo and chairman David Bernauer, who will turn 62 later this month, will continue as chairman, remaining actively engaged, the company said, in day-to-day business operations, maintaining oversight of corporate strategy, information technology, law and government affairs.
The company says the moves are part of Walgreens long- range leadership succession planning.
Rein joined Walgreens as an assistant manager in 1982 and was promoted to store manager in 1984, district manager in 1990, divisional vp and treasurer in 1996 and vp, marketing systems and services, in 2000. He was named executive vp, marketing, in 2001 and promoted to president and chief operating officer in 2003.
The company also named Catherine Lindner to the new position of divisional vp, marketing development, in which she'll “shape the store environment for various customer segments and develop new products and services.” Lindner was previously divisional vp and general merchandise manager for beauty and fashion in the company's purchasing department. She joined Walgreens in 1999 as a category manager in purchasing. She was promoted to divisional merchandise manager in 2000 and to divisional vice president in 2004.