50 Most influential people in retail health
According to the Business Intelligence and Consulting Group (citing Credence Research), the value of U.S. retail clinics in 2023—in retail stores, pharmacies and supermarkets—was $569.79 billion and is projected to grow to $948.80 billion by 2032.
That’s an impressive clip, but that growth would not be possible without the people (the decision makers) driving that train.
There are many people who deserve credit for this, of course, but let’s face it—we don’t have enough space to list them all here. But we do have enough pages to list 50, with one extra thrown in. So after you ask yourself “Why am I not on this list,” you might be asking, how we came up with it?
Short answer? It was a team effort, which included the entire staff of the magazine. But we also receive input from industry observers, consultants and other retail executives. Then we looked at the influence (and the reach) the potential honoree’s position (and organization) has on retail pharmacy and health care. In one case, we looked at the honoree’s influence on the future of education and staffing, which everyone agrees is in crisis mode.
And before you ask, there is no beauty or personal care entry on the list. Stay tuned for a separate list that will be published in a short while. So with that, here are the 50 most influential people in retail healthcare.
Karen Lynch
President, CEO, CVS Health
At one point one of three women to head America’s top retail pharmacy chains, Karen Lynch now stands alone at CVS. Since joining the company, she spearheaded two major acquisitions: Signify Health and Oak Street Health.
Musab Balbale
Chief Merchandising Officer, CVS Health
Balbale has more than 20 years of experience in strategy, investing and operating roles with merchandising and P&L responsibility in the consumer retail and services sector. He joined CVS Health in 2022 after serving in executive leadership roles with Walmart.
Emily Pefanis
VP, Specialty Pharmacy Operations, CVS Health
Pefanis is a clinical and operational executive leader with 15 years of experience. A passionate clinician focused on delivering exceptional patient care, she has experience in multiple pharmacy disciplines, including Medicare Part D.
Tim Wentworth
CEO, Walgreens
Hoping to be a change agent that rights the ship, Tim Wentworth joined Walgreens Boots Alliance as CEO in October 2023. Wentworth is already making an impact, as the retailer is closing U.S. stores and making changes at the remainder of the stores to boost performance.
Rick Gates
Chief Pharmacy Officer, Walgreens
Gates brings over 25 years of experience as a pharmacist to Walgreens’ efforts to evolve the future of pharmacy. Previously, he served as senior vice president of pharmacy and healthcare, where he was responsible for commercial development and sales across health plans and biopharmaceutical partnerships, among other roles.
Heather Hughes
Group VP, General Merchandise, Healthcare, CPG and Seasonal, Walgreens
After spending a year with CVS, Heather Hughes joined Walgreens in 2000, moving up from pharmacy manager to VP of general merchandise and health care. Among her skills are sales, revenue and profit growth and merchandising.
Mary Langowski
EVP, U.S. Healthcare, Walgreens Boots Alliance
Mary Langowski leads WBA’s U.S. healthcare business segment as the company expands its role in health care. Langowski has a successful track record of building and driving commercially successful initiatives, businesses and partnerships that improve patient outcomes.
Rina Shah
SVP of Pharmacy of the Future and Transformation, Walgreens
Shah started her career at Walgreens in 1998 and is now senior vice president of Pharmacy of the Future and Transformation. Shah brings 25 years of experience with community-based care that seeks to broaden pharmacist capabilities.
Rick Dreiling
Chairman, CEO, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar
Dreiling ascended to CEO of Dollar Tree in 2023, after joining as chairman in 2022. Previously, he headed Dollar General from 2008 to 2016. Over that time, the company increased its store count by more than 40% and sales increased more than 80%.
Ramita Tandon
Chief Clinical Trials Officer, Walgreens
Tandon, who leads the Clinical Trials business at Walgreens, has spent more than 25 years in the healthcare and life sciences industry. She has been continuously seeking innovative ways to partner with bio-pharmaceutical companies to operate trials more effectively.
Todd Vasos
CEO, Dollar General
Todd Vasos became CEO in May 2015, having held key positions at three drug chains as well as Dollar General. His talents filled a long list, including front-end marketing, merchandising and supply chain. During his time, he made meaningful changes to products and merchandising.
Jeffrey S. Stein
CEO, Chief Restructuring Officer, Rite Aid
Amid its challenges, Rite Aid Corporation appointed Stein as CEO, chief restructuring officer and a member of the Board of Directors in January 2023. Stein is leading the retailer through its restructuring plan to bring the company out of bankruptcy.
Karen Staniforth
Chief Pharmacy Officer, Rite Aid
Staniforth excels at implementing innovative pharmacy solutions and customer-centric strategies at Rite Aid. Her leadership in transforming pharmacy operations has enhanced the retailer’s market position and satisfaction amongst consumers. She is a board member of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.
Doug McMillon
President, CEO, Walmart
Starting his career as an hourly associate unloading trailers, McMillon made it all the way to the big chair. Under his leadership as president and CEO, Walmart is investing heavily in wages, benefits and education—including a debt-free college program and an expanded parental leave policy.
John Furner
President, CEO, Walmart U.S.
John Furner serves as president and chief executive officer of Walmart U.S., where he leads more than 1.5 million associates and is responsible for the strategic direction and performance of Walmart’s 4,700 stores, website, app and supply chain.
Rodney McMullen
CEO, Kroger
McMullen has been a champion of integrating pharmacy, health and wellness with its grocery offerings and of expanding the retailer’s digital shopping experience. During his tenure as CFO, he oversaw the integration of the largest acquisition in Kroger’s history: the $13 billion merger with Fred Meyer Inc.
Brian Cornell
CEO, Chair, Target
Cornell has served Target since August 2014. He took the reins at a challenging time, when Target had been hobbled by a poorly executed foray into the Canadian market and a data breach that compromised the personal information of millions of consumers. Cornell took decisive action then and has continued to do so ever since.
Rick Keyes
President, CEO, Meijer
Keyes has been with Meijer, Inc., the family-owned and privately-held retailer for more than 30 years. Joining the company as a pharmacy team member in Columbus, Ohio, he was named president and CEO in 2015. Among his priorities is a strong focus on enhancing the customer experience and driving team member engagement.
Vivek Sankaran
CEO, Albertsons Companies
Sankaran is CEO of Albertsons, one of the largest food and drug retailers in the U.S. For over 13 years, he has been immersed in the food and grocery space, leading PepsiCo Foods North America before joining Albertsons Companies in 2019. One of his priorities is leading the company’s digital transformation.
Omer Gajial
EVP, Chief Merchandising & Digital Officer, Albertsons Companies
Gajial oversees merchandising, marketing, data, pricing, Own Brands, health, business ventures and the Albertsons Media Collective. He joined Albertsons in 2020 as the Company’s executive vice president, where he accelerated growth in the retailer’s digital and pharmacy businesses.
Kevin Host
SVP, Pharmacy, Walmart
Prior to joining Walmart, Host was the president and COO of Avita, where he led the roll-up and integration of multiple acquired companies focused on providing 340B pharmacy services to patients and providers in the HIV community. He has a strong background in specialty benefit management, product development and pharmacy operations.
Latriece Watkins
EVP, Chief Merchandising Officer, Walmart U.S.
First joining the company as an intern in real estate, Watkins has served in a variety of key leadership roles within Sam’s Club, human resources and U.S. store operations. She has led several important portfolio and strategic initiatives across the company.
Chris Nicholas
President, CEO, Sam’s Club
Prior to ascending to his current roles at Sam’s Club in September 2023, Nicholas served as EVP and COO for Walmart U.S. As COO, he was responsible for all aspects of Walmart’s U.S. Store Operations and Supply Chain— including strategy, innovation, automation, store operations, distribution center and fulfillment center operations, last mile delivery capability and real estate.
Sean Jackson
SVP, Consumables and OTC, Sam’s Club
Jackson joined Sam’s Club in 2009, and contains a strong background in merchandising, product development and cross functional team management, and was appointed to his current role in 2018. Previously, he helmed the company’s home division.
Ron Vachris
President, CEO, Costco
Vachris was elected president and CEO on Jan. 1, 2024. He previously served as executive vice president of merchandising, senior vice president of real estate development and senior vice president, general manager of the Northwest Region.
Colleen Lindholz
President, Kroger Health
Lindholz oversees all of Kroger Health’s pharmacy, clinical and nutrition operations and services, including all healthcare-related digital solutions and telehealth platforms. She’s also the architect of the company’s “Food as Medicine” strategy.
Dr. Marc Watkins
Chief Medical Officer, Kroger Health
Dr. Watkins assumed the role of chief medical officer of Kroger Health in August 2018. Prior, he served as chief medical officer of The Little Clinic, where he was responsible for developing the clinical program initiatives for more than 215 clinics and 800 clinicians.
Aaron Wiese
President, Hy-Vee
Wiese was named senior vice president, health, wellness, chief strategy officer, Hy-Vee, Inc., and president, Amber Specialty Pharmacy, in 2020. He was elected president in 2022. A leader in the health care and retail industry, he has a long relationship with the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative and Iowa Healthiest State Initiative.
Jeremy Gosch
Chairman & CEO, Hy-Vee
Gosch started his Hy-Vee career in 1996 as a part-time clerk at the Coralville, Iowa, store and was named store director at Eldora, Iowa, in 2002. He held store leadership positions in several communities before joining Hy-Vee’s executive leadership team in 2012, eventually becoming CEO and vice chairman of the company’s board of directors.
Charles Butt
CEO, H-E-B
Butt became chairman, president and chief executive officer in 1971 and, under his leadership, the company has continued to grow. Today, there are more than 400 stores in Texas and Mexico, with 120,000-plus employees, making the company the largest private employer in Texas.
Mike Stigers
President, Wakefern Food/ShopRite
Stigers took the reins as president of Wakefern on June 1, 2023. The company is the nation’s largest retailer-owned cooperative with member companies that own and operate supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market banners. He brings five decades of industry experience and a distinguished track record in retail.
Diane Lawatsch
Director of Pharmacy Operations, Wegmans
Lawatsch has made notable contributions at Wegmans, particularly in logistics and supply chain management. She streamlined operations, enhanced efficiency and ensured product availability. Lawatsch’s leadership has significantly contributed to Weg- mans’ reputation for reliability and customer service.
Dain Rusk
VP of Pharmacy, Publix Pharmacy
Dain Rusk became vice president of pharmacy at employee-owned grocery chain Publix in 2018 after stints at Albertsons and Giant Food. He oversees pharmacy retail operations as well as the pharmacy retail business unit that includes central fill, specialty pharmacy, managed care programs and collaboration efforts with hospitals and healthcare centers.
Andy Jassy
President, CEO, Amazon.com
Jassy founded and led Amazon Web Services from its inception and served as its CEO from April 2016 until July 2021. He joined Amazon in 1997 and, prior to founding AWS, held various leadership roles across the company, including both business-to-business and business-to-consumer. He currently sits on the board of directors.
Michael Wysong
CEO, Care Pharmacies Cooperative
Wysong is CEO of Care Pharmacies Cooperative. During his tenure, CARE has experienced record growth and has been named a “Hot 100” retailer multiple times by the National Retail Federation. Wysong has been honored as one of the top executive leaders impacting specialty pharmacy.
Jim Whitman
SVP, Member Programs & Services, National Association of Chain Drug Stores
Whitman has served the National Association of Chain Drug Stores since 1977, and has long been a pillar of strength for the organization. He has helped events such as the NACDS Annual Meeting, TSE and others become hugely successful and widely attended by retailers and suppliers alike.
Doug Hoey
CEO, National Community Pharmacists Association
Hoey is the CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association, which represents the owners of nearly 19,400 small pharmacies. Hoey is a licensed pharmacist in Oklahoma, Virginia and Texas and practiced in a variety of community pharmacy settings including his own family’s pharmacy before coming to NCPA.
Jennifer Zilka
President, Good Neighbor Pharmacy
Zilka leads an extensive team of experienced professionals committed to helping independent community pharmacies simplify their business operations, amplify their brand and protect their independence. She leverages more than 20 years of pharmacy experience as she oversees an extensive roster of programs and services to enhance members’ in-store experience, marketing and business performance.
Jason Hollar
CEO, Cardinal Health
Jason Hollar is the CEO of Cardinal Health, a $205 billion Dublin, Ohio-based distributor of pharmaceuticals, a global manufacturer and distributor of medical and laboratory products, and a provider of performance and data solutions for healthcare facilities. Prior to his current role, he served as Cardinal Health chief financial officer.
Mark Griffin
President, CEO, Lewis Drug
In 1986, Griffin followed in the footsteps of his father and became the president and CEO of Lewis Drug. His tenure to date has been distinguished by a combination of tradition and continued innovation, as well as steady expansion. When he became CEO, the company had five stores; today 60 locations are open or under construction.
Steve Anderson
President, CEO, National Association of Chain Drug Stores
Anderson assumed the position of president and CEO of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores in 2007. serving as the chief spokesman for an industry that has annual sales of more than $1 trillion and employs more than 3.2 million individuals.
Brian Nightengale
EVP of Healthcare, Inmar Intelligence
Nightengale has successfully developed and grown businesses ranging from start-ups to multibillion-dollar profit and loss statements. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the pharmaceutical industry.
John Marraffa
President, Kinney Drugs
Marraffa was named president of Kinney Drugs in September 2021. Marraffa joined KPH Healthcare Services, Kinney Drugs’ parent company, in 2019 as vice president of government affairs and healthcare services integration. Since then, he launched a new division, “Kinnect,” a transformational onsite pharmacy for specialized healthcare facilities. Marraffa also expanded Kinney’s innovative “Delivery at Discharge” program, introduced a Patient Safety Organization and led Kinney’s extensive corporate COVID-19 vaccination and testing response.
Crystal Lennartz
President, Health Mart and Health Mart Atlas
Lennartz is president of HealthMart, an independent pharmacy franchise, and Health Mart Atlas, a pharmacy services administrative organization. She is a highly accomplished pharmacist, healthcare leader and advocate with more than 20 years of experience in managed care, clinical services, pharmacy operations and more.
Justin Heiser
President, CEO, Thrifty White Pharmacy
Heiser assumed the role of president and CEO at Thrifty White Pharmacy in January 2024. Since joining the 100-store employee-owned pharmacy chain in 2007, Heiser has held several roles with a focus on strategy, technology and business development.
Lynne Fruth
President, Fruth Pharmacy
Fruth has served the drug chain as president since 2010 and currently serves on the board of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. Fruth was awarded the Herald Dispatch Business Innovator of the Year Award in 2015 and was inducted into the Marshall University College of Business Hall of Fame in 2012.
Scott Emerson
President, Founder, The Emerson Group
The Emerson Group was founded in 1994 with the vision of providing emerging and small to mid-size brands strategic support. Currently, Emerson spearheads strategic initiatives in digital transformation and customer experience. His leadership focuses on leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency and drive sales growth.
Lisa Paley
President, North America, Haleon
Paley has led Haleon North America since 2021 and she has held numerous executive appointments at companies such as Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson and Deloitte. Paley is a board member of the CHPA Executive Committee, the NACDS Retail Advisory Board and the WE Board.
Nimesh Jhaveri
EVP, Chief Impact Officer, McKesson Corporation
Jhaveri oversees efforts in Inclusion and Belonging, Environmental Responsibility, Impact Strategy and Operations, the McKesson Foundation and Impact Innovation. Jhaveri, a licensed pharmacist, joined McKesson in 2018 as SVP, Health Mart. Most recently, Jhaveri was president of Community Pharmacy and Health, which includes field sales and operations, the Health Mart Franchise, Health Mart Atlas and Consumer Packaged Goods.
Special Editor’s Pick
Lee C. Vermeulen
EVP, CEO, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
Lee C. Vermeulen, M.S., FCCP, FFIP, was named the seventh executive vice president and CEO of AACP in 2022. Prior to his role, Vermeulen served as chief efficiency officer for UK HealthCare, the University of Kentucky health system, and also was a professor of medicine and pharmacy. His academic work focused on the development and implementation of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and clinical decision support tools that drive the efficient delivery of high-quality health care.