Personnel Updates
• Cardinal Health Inc. (187) announced that Stephen Mason, President of the company’s Cardinal Health at-Home Solutions business, has been promoted to CEO of Cardinal Health’s medical segment. He will succeed Jon Giacomin.
• CVS Health (306) announced that it has named Kevin Murphy Jr. to the role of Senior VP of Payer Relations and Managed Care.
• General Nutrition Centers, Inc. (48) named Ryan Ostrom as Chief Brand Officer. In addition, it has promoted Carl Seletz to the role of Chief Global Officer and Rachel Jones to VP of Global Brands.
• Walmart Stores Inc. (180) announced it is reducing the number of its U.S. pharmacy employees by about 3%.
Industry Insight
• A walk-in clinic will open at the Mall of America in November, offering services for both workers and customers. The new clinic will be part of M Health Fairview, a partnership between Fairview Health Services and the University of Minnesota.
• Amazon.com Inc. is partnering with Rite Aid Corporation to launch “Counter,” dedicated counters in Rite Aid stores where Amazon customers can pick up their purchases. The service, which is free to all Amazon customers, is now available in more than 100 Rite Aid stores, and will be rolled out across 1,500 locations by the end of the year.
• Ridley’s Food Corp., in a partnership with Nimble Rx, will launch on-demand prescription drug delivery for customers in Utah and Idaho.
Real Estate
• Fred’s Inc. announced it will close another 129 stores and hold inventory clearance sales. The company will have an estimated 80 retail stores and 166 pharmacies following its store closures.
• General Nutrition Centers, Inc. announced plans to close an estimated 700 to 900 store locations.
• Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. has announced it will close 200 Boots drugstores in the United Kingdom.
Technology News
• CVS Health announced its telehealth offering is now available in eight additional states, bringing the total number of states with this option to 26.
• Rite Aid Corporation is partnering with Google Maps in a program to promote safe medication disposal. More than 550 medication disposal units across the nation are now searchable on Google Maps.
