CAMP HILL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rite Aid (RAD) announced today the appointment of Andre Persaud as executive vice president, retail. Persaud will lead the retail operations for more than 2400 Rite Aid locations. His responsibilities will include inventory and supply chain management, field team management, store operations, asset protection and facility maintenance and repairs. His retail experience includes grocery, pharmacy, off-price apparel, and beauty services, among others. Most recently, Persaud served as an executive consultant to Wakefern Food. “Andre has demonstrated proven success when it comes to leading a transformational retail strategy,” said Heyward Donigan, CEO, Rite Aid. “The company has many exciting growth initiatives planned for 2020 and beyond. With Andre on board, we will move quickly to build on existing Rite Aid customer loyalty and implement a compelling, go-forward retail vision.” “I’m thrilled to join Rite Aid at such a pivotal moment in the company’s history,” said Andre Persaud, executive vice president, retail, Rite Aid. “Customer expectations of retail pharmacies are rapidly changing. They want a more engaged health and wellness experience, more relevant, curated merchandise and a seamless retail experience. I look forward to working with the Rite Aid team to deliver on these expectations.” Andre Persaud was appointed executive vice president, retail for Rite Aid in February 2020. Persaud will lead retail operations, supply chain, asset protection, and store facilities. Persaud is an accomplished senior executive with more than 25 years of diverse and broad retail experience across varied channels and formats for public and private equity owned companies in both the U.S. and Canada. Most recently, Persaud was as an executive consultant with Wakefern Food Corporation, the nation’s largest retailer-owned cooperative with member companies that own and operate supermarkets, where he worked with the leadership team on the company’s ongoing strategic transformation. Prior to Wakefern, Persaud served as executive vice president retail, for Shopko Stores Operating Company with direct responsibility for all operating divisions and banners across retail, pharmacy, and optical. Previously, Persaud served as senior vice president, store operations for Burlington Stores and prior to that he served as senior vice president, central operations and merchandising, for Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada’s leading grocery business. Previously, Persaud served in multiple senior operational leadership roles for Shoppers Drug Mart (SHDMF). He began his career as a pharmacist and served in progressive leadership roles to eventually lead drug store operations for Walmart Canada. Persaud has served on the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Board of Directors and as a Board Advisor for Profitect, an AI and prescriptive analytics company. Persaud has served on the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Board of Directors and as a Board Advisor for Profitect, an AI and prescriptive analytics company. He holds both a bachelor of pharmacy degree and an MBA from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
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