US drugstore Walgreens’ president of pharmacy, health and wellness Kermit Crawford is to retire.
At the end of 2014 he will leave the pharmacy giant 31 years after joining the company as a pharmacy intern in 1983. Over the years he climbed the ranks at Walgreens, moving from pharmacist to store, and then district, manager and then to VP of store operations.
Crawford’s more senior roles at Walgreens included VP of pharmacy benefit management, a role he gained in 2004. In 2007 he was appointed senior VP of pharmacy services before being named executive VP of pharmacy services three years later.
In September 2010, he was promoted to president of the division and in 2011, his role was broadened to include leadership of all pharmacy, health and wellness services.
Despite his decision to step down from this role, this is not the end for Crawford at Walgreens. According to the company, he will continue to serve as senior counsellor to CEO Greg Wasson.
Crawford also intends to pursue interests outside of Walgreens, including an academic role at the University of Southern California’s School of Pharmacy, where will serve as executive in residence and senior adviser to the dean. On top of this Crawford will serve as national chair for the American Diabetes Association’s new Ad Council campaign across the country.
Crawford said the time was right to retire from Walgreens and “broaden my horizons”.
“To me, community pharmacy has long been an unsung hero in our healthcare system, helping primary caregivers to provide convenient, affordable and essential health and wellness services in neighbourhoods across America.”