Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has hired Neal Sample as its Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO). He will report to Tim Wentworth, who recently became the group’s new Chief Executive following the abrupt resignation of Rosalind Brewer after several downgrades of WBA’s annual earnings forecast.
Sample will lead the strategy for WBA’s IT function and the implementation of its technology and digital innovation, with an emphasis on “improving the digital experience for customers and patients, as WBA continues its next phase of growth into a customer-centric healthcare company.”
Sample is described as an award-winning technologist and seasoned executive who has a strong track record of driving growth and innovation. He has more than 20 years of experience across highly regulated industries, including healthcare and financial services, and has worked at start-ups and legacy Fortune 100 companies. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board at Wellfield Technologies, as well as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, Missouri.
One of his prior roles included Chief Operating Officer and CIO of healthcare company Express Scripts, where he streamlined operations, accelerated growth, improved key operating metrics, launched a new product line, led the architecture and platform delivery of complex information systems for nearly 30,000 employees and 80 million patients.
“I am excited to welcome Neal to our executive leadership team and confident that as our CIO he will help take our IT capabilities to the next level using his strong background and experience in formulating modernization plans, implementing technology solutions, accelerating growth and redefining standards of execution excellence,” said Wentworth.
“He will be a key component to achieving our goals as we build on the company’s pharmacy strength and trusted brand to evolve healthcare delivery.”
Sample added: “WBA has a powerful vision to be the leading partner in reimagining local healthcare and wellbeing for all. I am eager and excited to continue working alongside an incredibly talented and dedicated team to advance technology and digital innovation at WBA toward our goal to be the independent partner of choice in pharmacy and healthcare services.”
In a group trading update last month, WBA revealed plans to cut costs by at least $1bn after the business made a net loss of $3.1bn for the full year, down from a profit of $4.3bn in the previous 12 months. The cuts are expected to focus on WBA’s US operations, including shutting more unprofitable stores and making its supply chain more efficient.
WBA is currently seeking to expand beyond its core retail and pharmacy business and refocus its operations on the lucrative healthcare market in the US. This is expected to lead to the eventual sale of its Boots chain in the UK following a failed attempt last year.
