DEERFIELD, Ill., June 6, 2011 – Walgreens has named Steve Pemberton the company’s divisional vice president of diversity and inclusion. In this role, he also becomes the company’s first Chief Diversity Officer. Pemberton will report to Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, senior vice president and Chief Human Resources Officer.
Pemberton is responsible for ensuring that Walgreens demonstrates cultural and workforce diversity. He takes the lead on directing activities to help serve diverse markets and populations, including customers in medically underserved areas, food deserts and urban areas. In addition, Pemberton will also help strengthen relationships with diverse suppliers and communities.
“Diversity and inclusion are embedded in our DNA at Walgreens – no other drugstore retailer serves more communities,” said Wilson-Thompson. “With Steve’s drive, impressive background and insight, we are confident he and his team will build upon the philosophy that diversity is less about what you look like, but more about what you think.”
Pemberton spent seven years with Monster.com, where most recently he was Chief Diversity Officer and vice president of diversity and inclusion. Prior to that, he was co-president, co-founder and chief operating officer for Road to College, the first web-based admission counseling service in the country. Earlier in his career, he was senior assistant director of multicultural admissions at Boston College, his alma mater. Pemberton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1989.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2010 sales of $67 billion. The company operates 7,709 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.