Walgreens Names New CIO, Announces Other Executive Appointments

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walgreens (NYSE:WAG)(NASDAQ:WAG) today announced the appointment of three executives, including a new member of the company’s senior leadership team. Tim Theriault, 49, will join Walgreens as chief information officer and senior vice president, effective Oct. 1. Additionally, Abhi Dhar, 37, has joined Walgreens as chief technology officer and divisional vice president in Walgreens e-commerce division, and Deborah Sabo, 47, was recently named divisional vice president of marketing services.

“His strategic business skills, reputation for building teams and financial background give Tim a combination of technology and business expertise that extends well beyond the IT space.”

Theriault will be responsible for the overall IT strategy that will enable Walgreens new businesses and strategic initiatives. That includes developing the enterprise architecture vision, enhancing applications and building the infrastructure to support Walgreens business units.

Theriault comes to Walgreens from Northern Trust Corporation, where he held a range of leadership positions during his 25-year tenure with the company, most recently serving as president of corporate and institutional services. Theriault brings an extensive background in technology, having also served as president of worldwide operations and technology, and as chief technology officer while at Northern Trust Corporation. He first joined Northern Trust in 1982, and from 1989-1991 he worked in advanced technologies at S.C. Johnson and Son, Inc.

Theriault earned a bachelor of arts degree in business management from Illinois State University in 1982 and completed the advanced management program at Harvard University Business School in 2007.

“Tim is a highly-respected technology and banking executive who brings a unique combination of leadership, innovation and business intellect,” said Walgreens President and CEO Greg Wasson. “His strategic business skills, reputation for building teams and financial background give Tim a combination of technology and business expertise that extends well beyond the IT space.”

Denise Wong, who previously served as Walgreens chief information officer and vice president, was named corporate vice president of information technologies, focusing on elevating the company’s in-store retail and corporate shared services IT systems.

Abhi Dhar now heads IT in Walgreens e-commerce division as chief technology officer and divisional vice president, responsible for end-to-end delivery, development and innovation of the online platform. Previously, Dhar served as chief information officer and senior vice president at TravelCLICK since 2006, where he built an IT and product delivery organization by restructuring the team, recruiting talent and optimizing vendor relationships. From 2001 to 2006, he held various technology leadership roles with Cendant Corporation and its Travelport division. Dhar also worked in engineering consulting capacities with PricewaterhouseCoopers and AT&T.

Dhar earned an undergraduate degree in engineering from the National Institute of Engineering, Mysore University in India in 1993 and earned a master of science degree in engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1995.

Deborah Sabo joined Walgreens last month as divisional vice president of marketing services, where she is responsible for the management and leadership of all consumer communications programs including media, promotions and cause marketing. Additionally, she oversees both in-store and out-of-store visual brand identity. Sabo spent 18 years with Sara Lee Corporation, most recently serving as its vice president of marketing services. At Sara Lee, Sabo led the development and execution of all brands’ communication plans including media, promotions, digital, merchandising and co-marketing programs. Prior to joining Sara Lee she spent five years at Block Drug Company in New Jersey.

Sabo earned a bachelor of arts degree from Bowling Green State University in 1984.

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation’s largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2008 sales of $59 billion. The company operates 6,996 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Walgreens provides the most convenient access to consumer goods and services and cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services in America through its retail drugstores, Walgreens Health Services division and Walgreens Health and Wellness division. Walgreens Health Services assists pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives Inc. (a pharmacy benefit manager), Walgreens Mail Service Inc., Walgreens Home Care Inc., Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy LLC and SeniorMed LLC (a pharmacy provider to long-term care facilities). Walgreens Health and Wellness Division includes Take Care Health Systems, the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.