Mastrian, master merchant, hangs ’em up
CAMP HILL, Pa. —Jim Mastrian finished his last lap in style. Rite Aid’s special adviser of corporate strategy, who retired Aug. 31, after more than 40 years of service to the retail pharmacy industry, attended his last Rite Aid Management Conference and Supplier Exhibition, held at the Baltimore Convention Center last month, on a high note. Rite Aid’s acquired Brooks/Eckerd store bases are on the upswing—positive comps are expected as soon as September—as the No. 3 drug retailer nears completion of the last of the minor remodels. And Rite Aid’s executive team is galvanizing the troops to make a run at what essentially will be the company’s second turnaround in a decade—first one Rite Aid, now Brooks/Eckerd.
That would mark three turnarounds that were engineered, in part, by Mastrian—before joining Rite Aid Mastrian played a key role in revitalizing Revco just before that company was acquired by CVS.
Rite Aid paid tribute to Mastrian during its annual gala celebration. “You will not find a leader with more enthusiasm and character,” Mary Sammons, Rite Aid chairman, president and chief executive officer, told Rite Aid associates and vendors during the chain’s trade show.
Indeed, Sammons’ comments echo themes repeated often by many in the industry whose lives and careers were impacted by Mastrian’s considerable intelligence and unselfish leadership. Never afraid to get his hands dirty, yet Mastrian never micromanaged. Proteges and collegues alike told Drug Store News. Instead, Mastrian’s style was to champion the executives that worked for him, allowing them autonomy in the business segments they managed and instilling an intense loyalty among those who looked to Mastrian as a career mentor.
Industry leaders praise Mastrian as leader, mentor and industry stalwartDrug Store News talked to a number of retailers and suppliers about the impact of Jim Mastrian, who retired last month as Rite Aid special adviser of corporate strategy. Here’s some of what they had to say:
Mary Sammons, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Rite Aid:
“You will not find a leader with more enthusiasm and character. Jim’s leadership is rooted in integrity and from a sense of inner conviction that leaders must live their messages by example.… The attributes of character, attitude, deeds and wisdom form the essence of his leadership. He has made enormous contributions throughout the 10 years he has been a member of our team.…
Jim is widely recognized as a leader in our industry receiving numerous accolades, including the prestigious Retailer of the Year and Marketer of the Year honors.…
Jim is widely regarded as a mentor. He teaches that there are no shortcuts to success: ‘That the fastest way to the top floor is to take the stairs, not the elevator.’…
People would walk through walls for Jim because he’s empowered them and taught them how to win.”
Steve Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores:
“Throughout his entire career, Jim has been a friend and strong supporter of our industry and of NACDS. Jim’s service to NACDS as a member of the board of directors will be missed. His many friends at NACDS wish him well for the future. We thank him for his many and great contributions to NACDS and to the industry, which are better because of him.”
Bryan Shirtliff, senior vice president of category management at Rite Aid:
“Jim knows the drug store industry, and knows it well. In fact, there’s probably no one in the industry that has the knowledge and the expertise that Jim has. Whether you’re talking about a situation in supply chain or category management, merchandising or operations, chances are, Jim’s faced something similar in his career and knows how to successfully resolve the issue, or has a pretty good idea of how to go about handling the situation.
And it’s not just work with Jim. He puts his all into everything he does, and really cares about his work and how it’s done. He doesn’t believe in taking shortcuts or trying to cut corners. Jim was involved every step of the way, always right there in the middle of whatever was going on, making sure he understood every last detail…and he had the dirt under his fingernails to prove it. He’s a mentor in every sense of the word, setting the example through his actions, as well as his words. He taught me that the devil is in the details…and that you’ve got to inspect what you expect. Those words will stay with me always.”
Bruce Schwallie, executive vice president of business development in managed care at Longs Drug Stores:
“We worked together for a long time—We worked seven years at Revco. He taught me a lot, really mentored me from being a director of procurement all the way to senior vice president of marketing and merchandising. Seeing him in action and some of the disciplines that he instilled in me and the other members of our team was an excellent training program.… In the early ’90s, we were developing category management models, and Jim had his own view of how category management ought to work—with the merchant playing a key role in that and [involving] data analysis around the consumers and products. Our view of category management in the drug store industry was different at that particular time—a lot of people turned category management over to the particular vendor.
He’s played so many different roles. People will remember him as being a strong merchant and a tough negotiator. The mark he leaves on the industry is the people that he trained—there are a lot of [us] Mastrian-ites out there.”
Jerry Cardinale, senior vice president of indirect procurement at Rite Aid:
“Jim is really a consummate professional and a true merchant. He really understands what the consumer wants, and he knows how to deliver. The most outstanding [quality] with Jim is he cares about his people.… He’s a mentor and does everything he can to teach his people and help them grow. He fosters a loyalty in people he’s worked with that I’ve never seen before. He has a different perspective and is always thinking of better ways to do things.… It’s rare to encounter somebody who’s as well-rounded and knowledgeable as Jim in all aspects of the business.… He always tries to give credit to his people for the accomplishments he inspires.”
Vic Mazzacone, Vic Mazzacone, LLC (formerly senior vice president of corporate relations at Novartis Consumer Health):
“He is a tough competitor. In the earlier stages of his career, he was a tough merchant.… What he taught us as we were learning how to do business in those early stages—there were other executives who were always tough—Jim was one who was always fair. In the early stages, the word partnership didn’t exist. In the case of Jim, he had set the tone for what partnerships [mean] today. I think, and that’s really important.”
Jay Forbes, vice president and director of trade development at Lebhar-Friedman (parent company of Drug Store News):
“As I conclude a 45-year career with Drug Store News, I can recollect just a handful of retailing executives who truly made a difference in the fate of the chains they worked for, and the lives of the people whose careers they nurtured.… Jim has always brought unique talent and optimism to the table. He has never been reticent about recruiting the best talent available, quietly motivating them in the face of adversity and consistently supporting their efforts.
He has always been in a select circle of top execs whose word you could trust, whose approach to business was tough, but fair, and was, above all, a consummate merchant.… Jim will leave a legacy of ethical practice, competitive excellence and retailing savvy for all who follow.”
Wilson Lester, Jr.,