HBCU Graduate Makes History, Becomes First Black Woman CEO at Walgreens

Walgreens has announced the appointment of Rosalind (Roz) Brewer, a graduate of Spelman College, as the company’s newest Chief Executive Officer. When she begins her new role in March 2021 working at the company’s headquarters in Deerfield, Illinois, she will be the only Black woman to currently run a Fortune 500 company.Walgreens has more than 9,000 locations and generates about $140 billion in annual revenue, and Brewer is the right person for the job. She brings a proven track record of leadership and operational expertise at multi-national corporations, with deep experience in strategic development, marketing, digital transformation and loyalty, innovation and technology, supply chain and store development.

She most recently served as Chief Operating Officer, Group President and member of the Board of Directors of Starbucks Corporation, where she has been instrumental in helping the company accelerate its growth strategy, expand its global reach and drive value for all of Starbucks’ diverse stakeholders.

Prior to joining Starbucks, Brewer served as President and CEO of Sam’s Club, the members-only warehouse channel of Walmart Inc. While there, she successfully grew membership, transformed merchandise and amplified the use of digital technology to enable a seamless shopping experience at scale, which led to sequentially improved comp sales.

Brewer earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Spelman College and attended Wharton’s Advanced Management Program and Stanford University’s Directors’ College. She is a former director of Amazon, Lockheed Martin and Molson Coors Brewing Company. She also chairs the board of trustees at Spelman College. She is currently ranked #27 on Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business.