Rite Aid appoints new EVP merchandising

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's SVP category management Tony Montini has been promoted to EVP merchandising, the pharmacy retailer said Monday.

In addition, SVP business development Bryan Shirtliff has been promoted to the new position of SVP merchandising.

As EVP merchandising, Montini, who began working for Rite Aid as SVP category management in February 2010 — though he previously served as VP purchasing from 1987 to 1989 and as SVP category management from 2002 to 2003 — will oversee field merchandising and new store format development in addition to his current category management responsibilities. Montini's new responsibilities include the Wellness stores, Value + stores and co-branded Save-A-Lot Rite Aid stores.

Shirtliff will report to Montini and will continue to be responsible for store segmentation initiatives and front-end merchandising.

“Tony has done a terrific job this past year in strengthening our category management department and further building upon our strong relationship with suppliers,” Martindale said. “With his broad-based retail experience and expertise in chain drug merchandising and marketing, he will be a great asset in strengthening our field merchandising capabilities and continuing the development of the new store formats that are part of our segmentation strategy.”