Rosalind Brewer was appointed Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer, effective on March 15, 2021. She is the third Black American Woman to lead a Fortune 500 Company.
Work Experience
She was most recently group president and chief operating officer, Starbucks Corporation, Oct. 2017 to January 2021. As group president and chief operating officer, Brewer leads the company’s operating businesses across the Americas (Canada, U.S. and Latin America), as well as the global functions of supply chain, product innovation, and store development organizations. She also serves as a director on the Starbucks board of directors.
Prior to joining Starbucks, Ms. Brewer served as president and CEO of Wal-Mart's Sam's Club warehouse retail chain from 2012 to January 2017. She was the first woman and first black person to lead a business unit of Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer.
Previously she was President of the Wal-Mart U.S. east business unit, and was responsible for 1,600 stores spanning from Maine to Puerto Rico. With 550,000 associates and about $100 billion in sales -- a figure that would put her division in the top 20 of the Fortune 500 if it were a standalone company.
Rosalind joined Wal-Mart in 2006 as regional vice president, responsible for operations in Georgia, and was quickly promoted to president of the southeast operating division. She later led the south business unit of Wal-Mart U.S. as executive vice president and president before being appointed to her current role.
Prior to joining Wal-Mart, she worked for Kimberly-Clark Corp., progressing through various positions, starting as a scientist in nonwoven technology and product development before becoming vice president of the global nonwovens sector in 2004. As vice president of the nonwoven fabrics business, Rosalind was responsible for growing sales by more than 30 percent.
Board and Advisor Roles
Ms. Brewer serves as a Director of Walgreens Boots Alliance. She formerly served on the Board of Directors for Starbucks, Amazon, Lockheed Martin Corporation and Molson Coors Brewing Company.
Accolades
- She was selected for the inaugural 2021 Forbes 50 Over 50 list of entrepreneurs, leaders, scientists and creators who are over the age of 50.
- In 2020, Fortune ranked Brewer the 27th Most Powerful Women in the World.
- Forbes ranked her 48th on their 2020 Worlds 100 Most Powerful Women list.
- In 2017, she was awarded the Spelman College Legacy of Leadership award.
Philanthropy, Community Service and Memberships
She currently serves as the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for Spelman College, where she did her undergraduate work. She also served on Board of Trustees for the Westminster Schools in Atlanta. Ms. Brewer also is a Board Member of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture.
Education
Ms. Brewer earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Spelman College. She attended the advanced management program at The Wharton School and graduated from Director's College at the University of Chicago School of Business/Stanford School of Law.
