Content about People in the News

May 20, 2013
Rite Aid appoints Bruce Bodaker to board of directors

A California health executive has been appointed to Rite Aid's board of directors, the retail pharmacy chain said.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — A California health executive has been appointed to Rite Aid's board of directors, the retail pharmacy chain said Monday.

May 17, 2013
C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries owner wins Long Island University Distinguished Alumnus award

Long Island University's Brooklyn, N.Y., campus has given C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries owner Ian Ginsberg its Distinguished Alumnus Award, the university said.

NEW YORK — Long Island University's Brooklyn, N.Y., campus has given C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries owner Ian Ginsberg its Distinguished Alumnus Award, the university said.

Ginsberg received the award at the campus' commencement ceremony at Barclays Center Thursday. 

A 1985 graduate of the university's pharmacy school and third-generation pharmacist, Ginsberg is also the chairman of the Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors.

May 17, 2013
Hospira chief scientific officer returns

Hospira has reappointed its chief scientific officer after he briefly left the country earlier this year, the generic drug maker said.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Hospira has reappointed its chief scientific officer after he briefly left the country earlier this year, the generic drug maker said.

Sumant Ramachandra has been reappointed to the position, effective Friday, and will be in charge of the company's research and development, regulatory and medical affairs.

May 17, 2013
Kroger executive recipient of YWCA Career Woman of Achievement honor

Kroger publicly congratulated Kathleen Barclay, corporate officer and SVP human resources, for her recognition as a YWCA Career Woman of Achievement. Barclay was honored along with eight other women at YWCA's annual event.

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Thursday publicly congratulated Kathleen Barclay, corporate officer and SVP human resources, for her recognition as a YWCA Career Woman of Achievement. Barclay was honored along with eight other women at YWCA's annual event.

May 16, 2013
AmerisourceBergen elects UGI chairman to wholesaler's board of directors

AmerisourceBergen elected Lon Greenberg, 62, to its board of directors, effective immediately.

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — AmerisourceBergen on Thursday elected Lon Greenberg, 62, to its board of directors, effective immediately. Greenberg fills the vacancy created by Charles Cotros’s retirement from the board in February 2013. Greenberg also joined the audit and corporate responsibility committee and finance committee of the board. AmerisourceBergen's board of directors is currently comprised of 10 directors.

May 16, 2013
D.C. municipal buildings to display calorie information on vending machines

The mayor of the nation's capital announced Thursday plans to include calorie information on vending machines in municipal buildings.

WASHINGTON — The mayor of the nation's capital announced Thursday plans to include calorie information on vending machines in municipal buildings.

Washington mayor Vincent Gray said the rollout of the Calories Count Vending Program would give workers and visitors the information they need to make wise lifestyle choices and would ultimately help reduce healthcare costs.

"This program is a great example of a public-private partnership that empowers consumers," Gray said.

May 16, 2013
Senate confirms Marilyn Tavenner as CMS administrator

The Senate voted overwhelmingly to confirm a former Virginia Health and Human Services secretary as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Senate voted overwhelmingly to confirm a former Virginia Health and Human Services secretary as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Members of the Senate voted 91-7 in favor of confirming Marilyn Tavenner to lead CMS, drawing praise from a retail pharmacy trade group.

May 16, 2013
Wireless pill bottle wins Boehringer Ingelheim-sponsored healthcare innovation contest

The makers of a pill bottle that uses wireless technology to keep patients adherent won the grand prize at a recent healthcare innovation contest.

NEW YORK — The makers of a pill bottle that uses wireless technology to keep patients adherent won the grand prize at a recent healthcare innovation contest.

AdhereTech developers Josh Stein, John Langhauser and Mike Morena will receive $50,000 in prize money as winners in the Healthcare Innovation World Cup, an international diabetes innovation challenge funded by Boehringer Ingelheim and organized by HITLAB.

May 15, 2013
Acosta appoints two executives to CVS team

Acosta Sales and Marketing has appointed two new executives, the company said.

NEW YORK — Acosta Sales and Marketing has appointed two new executives, the company said.

Patrick O'Reilly has been hired as VP and team leader for the company's CVS team. O'Reilly previously spent 25 years working for Eastman Kodak as director of sales for the drug channel and CVS team leader and was also VP sales for the drug channel at Foster Grant International.

Kevin Downey has been hired as director of Acosta's CVS team. He previously spent 25 years working for Mars North America and was the Mars CVS team leader.

May 15, 2013
Committee advances bill to secure pharmaceutical supply chain

A federal drug track-and-trace bill has made it out of a congressional committee.

ARLINGTON, Va. — A federal drug track-and-trace bill has made it out of a congressional committee.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to approve H.R. 1919, the Safeguarding America's Pharmaceuticals Act of 2013, sponsored by Reps. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, and Jim Matheson, D-Utah.

May 15, 2013
Coty adds Olivier Goudet to board of directors

Coty, an emerging global leader in beauty, announced today that it has added Olivier Goudet , partner and chief executive officer of the Joh. A. Benckiser Group, to the company's board of directors.

NEW YORK — Coty Inc., an emerging global leader in beauty, announced today that it has added Olivier Goudet , partner and chief executive officer of the Joh. A. Benckiser Group, to the company's board of directors.

Goudet replaces Bernd Beetz, who stepped down from Coty's Board to pursue other interests. JAB is a privately held group that owns and invests in premium brands; it is also Coty's majority shareholder.

May 15, 2013
Md. state employees eligible for MTM pilot program

The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy is piloting a program that will allow state employees to receive medication therapy management services, the university announced.

BALTIMORE — The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy is piloting a program that will allow state employees to receive medication therapy management services, the university announced.

May 15, 2013
Shoppers Drug Mart touts products, education for summer

Canadian retail pharmacy chain Shoppers Drug Mart is offering a range of products for the summer, as well as tips for enjoying the season safely.

TORONTO — Canadian retail pharmacy chain Shoppers Drug Mart is offering a range of products for the summer, as well as tips for enjoying the season safely.

The 1,240-store chain said it would offer a selection of products for outdoor entertaining, road trips, summer beauty and first aid and information on choosing the right sunscreen, sunglasses and barbecue recipes.

May 14, 2013
Former Morrisons executive appointed group chief information officer at Ahold

Royal Ahold has appointed Ben Wishart as group chief information officer, the Dutch supermarket operator said.

AMSTERDAM — Royal Ahold has appointed Ben Wishart as group chief information officer, the Dutch supermarket operator said Tuesday.

In the newly created position, Wishart will report to CFO Jeff Carr and will work out of the company's Amsterdam headquarters. He previously worked at U.K. food retailer Morrisons as chief information officer. Ahold operates the Stop & Shop, Giant-Landover and Giant-Carlisle supermarket chains in the United States, as well as the Peapod online grocery service.

May 14, 2013
Kroger promotes two finance executives

Kroger announced two finance executive promotions that will be effective with their elections by Kroger's board of directors expected on June 27.

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Tuesday announced two finance executive promotions that will be effective with their elections by Kroger's board of directors expected on June 27. Scott Henderson has been named VP pension investment and strategy and Todd Foley has been named VP and treasurer. 

Henderson, 57, currently serves as Kroger's VP and treasurer, a position he has held since 2003. He will lead a new team that is responsible for overseeing nearly $12 billion of assets.

May 14, 2013
Nutrisystem names seasoned PR exec to head communications

Nutrisystem announced the appointment of Robin Shallow as VP public relations and corporate communications.

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa. — Nutrisystem on Tuesday announced the appointment of Robin Shallow as VP public relations and corporate communications. Shallow will drive consumer and corporate communications strategies for the Nutrisystem brand and will join the company on May 20.

Nutrisystem recently entered the retail space in a bigger way with distribution through Walmart. 

May 14, 2013
Rite Aid launches Nail Extravaganza contest

Rite Aid is sponsoring its second annual nail-art contest, the retail pharmacy chain said.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is sponsoring its second annual nail-art contest, the retail pharmacy chain said Tuesday.

Rite Aid announced the launch of its "Nail Extravaganza," based around the two-round "Search for the Rite Aid Nail Enthusiast" contest; the first round runs through May 24. Contestants compete for 20 prizes by submitting nail designs at Riteaidnails.com.

May 14, 2013
Senators call for oversight on preferred pharmacy networks

Medicare Part D plans that create tiered networks of pharmacies for beneficiaries need more oversight amid reports that small and medium-sized pharmacies are being excluded from them, several senators wrote in a letter last week to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

WASHINGTON — Medicare Part D plans that create tiered networks of pharmacies for beneficiaries need more oversight amid reports that small and medium-sized pharmacies are being excluded from them, several senators wrote in a letter last week to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

May 13, 2013
Commerce Dept.: Health, personal care store sales up year-over-year, year-to-date sales down slightly over 2012

Seasonally adjusted retail sales increased by 0.6% in April over last year, while unadjusted retail sales increased 3.9%, according to numbers released Monday by the Department of Commerce.

WASHINGTON — Seasonally adjusted retail sales increased by 0.6% in April over last year, while unadjusted retail sales increased 3.9%, according to numbers released Monday by the Department of Commerce.

The figures, which exclude cars, gas stations and restaurants, showed that retail sales for the month increased 0.1%.

May 13, 2013
GPhA promotes lobbyist

The Generic Pharmaceutical Association has promoted Jason Money to associate VP federal government affairs, the trade group said Monday.

WASHINGTON — The Generic Pharmaceutical Association has promoted Jason Money to associate VP federal government affairs, the trade group said Monday.

Money, who has worked for the GPhA for six years, was previously the organization's senior director for federal affairs. In the new position, he will continue lobbying on behalf of the generic drug industry in Congress.

May 13, 2013
Hillary Clinton to speak at Total Store Expo

Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton will speak at one of the morning business sessions of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' Total Store Expo in August, the trade group said.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton will speak at one of the morning business sessions of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' Total Store Expo in August, the trade group said Monday.

Clinton, who served as state secretary from 2009 until earlier this year, will speak during the Aug. 12 program. TSE, which will combine the Pharmacy and Technology, Marketplace and Supply Chain and Logistics conferences, will take place in Las Vegas.

May 13, 2013
N.J. law designed to address prescription eye drop adherence

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation into law that will allow patients using prescription eye drops to get early refills in order to prevent interruptions in therapy.

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation into law Monday that will allow patients using prescription eye drops to get early refills in order to prevent interruptions in therapy.

May 10, 2013
SPCB appoints new education director

The Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board has appointed Terri Smith Moore as the education director, the group said.

TAMPA, Fla. — The Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board has appointed Terri Smith Moore as the education director, the group said Friday.

Moore is the senior manager for product development at healthcare accreditation organization URAC, where she manages the group's accreditation programs and revisions and maintenance of related accreditation documentation.

May 9, 2013
Costco comps increase 4% in April

Costco sales grew 7% in April over April 2012, the club retailer said.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp.'s sales grew 7% in April over April 2012, the club retailer said Thursday.

Costco reported sales of $7.98 billion for the four weeks that ended Sunday, compared with $7.48 billion during the same period last year. Sales for the 35-week period that ended Sunday were $69 billion, 9% higher than the $63.59 billion recorded last year.

Sales in the United States at continuously open stores since last April increased by 4%, while same-store sales for the 35 weeks that ended Sunday increased 6%.

May 9, 2013
Former Eli Lilly executive appointed to top technology post at Sears Holdings

Sears Holdings has appointed Jeff Balagna as EVP and chief information officer, the Kmart parent company said Thursday.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings has appointed Jeff Balagna as EVP and chief information officer, the Kmart parent company said Thursday.

Balagna was previously chief information officer for drug maker Eli Lilly and will be responsible for Sears Holdings' technology and infrastructure initiatives in its support centers and in-store.