Jump to content

Rosalind Brewer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rosalind Brewer
CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance
In office
March 2021- September 2023
Preceded byStefano Pessina
Succeeded byTim Wentworth
COO of Starbucks
In office
2017-2021
CEO of Sam's Club
In office
2012-2017
Succeeded byJohn Furner
Personal details
Born1962 (age 62–63)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
SpouseJohn Brewer
Children2
EducationSpelman College (B.S.)
OccupationBusinesswoman

Rosalind G. Brewer (born 1962) is an American businesswoman and former CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, before stepping down in September 2023.[1] Brewer is the first woman to become CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, group president and COO of Starbucks, and CEO of Sam's Club.[2] She currently serves as a member of the President's Export Council.[3]

USA Today referred to her as "one of corporate America's most prominent women and black female executives."[4] Brewer has been called a "Highly Powerful Woman" by Forbes and Fortune magazines.

Early life and education

[edit]

Rosalind Brewer was born in 1962 in Detroit, Michigan,[5] the youngest of five children; they were the first generation in her family to attend college.[5] Due to her inclination for math and science, Brewer was interested in pursuing a career as a physician.[6]

In 1980, upon graduating from Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Brewer enrolled at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia where she completed her bachelor's degree in chemistry.[7][8] She decided not to pursue a career in medicine, and began working at Kimberly-Clark as a research technician.

Brewer completed the director's college (executive education) program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Stanford Law School,[9] as well as the advanced management program at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.[10]

Career

[edit]

Brewer has held executive positions at Kimberly-Clark, Walmart, Sam's Club, Starbucks, and Walgreens Boots Alliance. Additionally, in 2019 Brewer was elected and became the only black member of the board of directors at Amazon.[11] She has been a non-executive director at Lockheed Martin and Molson Coors Brewing Company.[10][12] Brewer continues to serve as a member on the board of trustees for Westminster School, the board of councilors for the Carter Presidential Center, and board of trustees chair at Spelman College.[6]

Kimberly-Clark (1984-2006)

[edit]

In 1984, after graduating from Spelman College, Brewer began her career as a research technician at Kimberly-Clark, a global paper-based product company, till 1988.[13] From 1988 to 1998, she held numerous leadership roles including market manager, and director for Skincare.[13] Between 1998 and 2006, Brewer served as the vice president of Kimberly-Clark's Nonwovens division.[13] Brewer had a 22 year career at Kimberly-Clark Corporation.[7][8]

Walmart and Sam's Club (2006-2017)

[edit]

Brewer's career with Walmart began in 2006. Brewer served as the vice president, senior vice president, executive vice president for southeastern operations, and executive vice president for the eastern business unit at Walmart stores.[13] Brewer started her position as regional vice president of operations in Georgia. Following her work as the regional vice president of Operations in Georgia, she became the division president of Walmart's southeast market, and finally the president of Walmart East.[14]

In 2012, Brewer left Walmart and became the president and CEO of Sam's Club, the membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Walmart.[15][16] She focused on health and wellness by doubling the number of organic products offered at Sam's Clubs.[17] As CEO of Sam’s Club, Brewer became the first black person to lead a Walmart division.[5] She retired from her role at Sam’s Club in 2017.[5]

Starbucks (2017-2021)

[edit]

On February 1, 2017, Brewer was nominated for the Starbucks board of directors. On September 6, 2017, was named COO and group president.[18][19][20] Brewer was the second-highest-ranking executive at Starbucks after CEO Kevin Johnson and the first black and the first woman to become the COO and group president of Starbucks.[21][22][23] She led businesses and operations in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.[24]

Walgreens Boots Alliance (2021-2023)

[edit]

On March 15, 2021, Rosalind Brewer was appointed as the CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance. Brewer became the only black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company during that timeframe.[25][26]

In 2023, Brewer's total compensation from Walgreens Boots Alliance was $14.1 million, or 407 times the median employee pay at Walgreens Boots Alliance for that year.[27]

In September 2023, Brewer agreed to step down as CEO in September 2023 after being in the role for two years.[1] Under Brewer's tenure as CEO, the company's stock declined 47%.[28]

In 2024, under the following CEO, Tim Wentworth, the company's stock declined 64%.[29]

Board memberships

[edit]

Brewer was a member of the board of directors at Amazon from 2019 to 2021.[11][30] She was a director of Lockheed Martin from 2011 to 2017, and Molson Coors Brewing Company from 2006 to 2011.[10][12][31][32][excessive citations]

Honors

[edit]

In 2020, Fortune ranked Brewer the 27th Most Powerful Woman in the World and Forbes ranked her 48th in their World's 100 Most Powerful Women.[7][33]

On September 15, 2015, Fortune included Brewer in its Most Powerful Woman rankings.[33] Working Mother named her one of the Most Powerful Working Moms of 2013.[34]

In 2017, Brewer received the Spelman College Legacy of Leadership award.[35][36]

Brewer was selected for the inaugural 2021 Forbes 50 Over 50 list of entrepreneurs, leaders, scientists and creators over the age of 50.[37] The same year, she was also inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.[38]

Brewer was named as one of USA Today's Women of the Year in 2022.[39]

Personal life

[edit]

Brewer is married to John Brewer, and they have two children.[7]

Advocacy for diversity and inclusion

[edit]

In 2015, as CEO of Sam's Club, Brewer was interviewed on CNN by Poppy Harlow. During the interview, Brewer explained that diversity was a priority for her.[21][40] When speaking about the topic, she said, "I demand it of my team" and that, "Every now and then you have to nudge your partners. You have to speak up and speak out. And I try to use my platform for that. I try to set an example."[40] Brewer described a specific incident when she was meeting with a supplier, and she recollected, "the entire other side of the table was all Caucasian male. That was interesting."[40] Brewer chose not to address the lack of diversity when meeting with the group, but said she was "going to make a call" to the supplier.[40] In response to her comments, Brewer faced repercussions, as many individuals on social media called her "racist."[21]

In support of Brewer's statement, Doug McMillon, Walmart's president and CEO, subsequently wrote in a statement, "For years, we've asked our suppliers to prioritize the talent and diversity of their sales teams calling on our company, Roz was simply trying to reiterate that we believe diverse and inclusive teams make for a stronger business. That's all there is to it and I support that important ideal."[40]

Shortly after becoming the COO and group president of Starbucks, the company was met with nationwide protests and negative publicity because of the arrest of two black men at a Philadelphia store location.[41] In response, Brewer and her team implemented policy changes and instituted racial bias training for employees in 8,000 stores.[42][43]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Kavilanz, Parija (September 1, 2023). "Walgreens CEO steps down | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  2. ^ Durbin, Dee-Ann. "Walgreens taps Starbucks exec Brewer as its new CEO, becoming the only Black woman leading a Fortune 500 company". USA Today.
  3. ^ "President's Export Council Members". International Trade Administration. 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Guynn, Jessica. "Amazon names black Starbucks exec Rosalind Brewer to all-white board in 'barrier-breaking' appointment". USA Today.
  5. ^ a b c d Ernst, Alina (July 7, 2018). "Rosalind G. Brewer".
  6. ^ a b Staff, A. Y. (September 2, 2012). "From chemist to CEO, Rosalind Brewer". AY Magazine. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d "Rosalind Brewer". Forbes.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Rosalind G. Brewer- Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  9. ^ Ernst, Alina (July 7, 2018). "Rosalind G. Brewer (1962- ) •". Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c "Trustee Rosalind G. Brewer, C'84 Spelman College". www.spelman.edu. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Amazon names Starbucks COO Rosalind Brewer to board of directors". CNN Business. February 5, 2019.
  12. ^ a b Campbell, Megan. "Starbucks COO Rosalind Brewer to leave for CEO role at Walgreens". The Business Journals.
  13. ^ a b c d "How Did I Get Here? Rosalind Brewer". Bloomberg.
  14. ^ "Sam's Club". Rosalind Brewer biography. Walmart. Archived from the original on September 8, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  15. ^ "Rosalind Brewer". Worlds Most Powerful Women. Forbes. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  16. ^ "Rosalind Brewer, Named First Woman, black, CEO Of Sam's Club". The Huffington Post. January 20, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  17. ^ "Most Powerful Women". Fortune.
  18. ^ F., Ebony. "Starbucks Nominates Rosalind Brewer To Board of Directors". Blavity.com. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  19. ^ Greenstone, Scott (September 6, 2017). "App-savvy new Starbucks COO is the first woman, black in company's highest echelon". Seattle Times. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  20. ^ "Starbucks Names Rosalind Brewer Group President and Chief Operating Officer". Starbucks Stories.
  21. ^ a b c Connley, Courtney (September 14, 2017). "3 things to know about Rosalind Brewer, Starbucks' first female and blackCOO". CNBC. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  22. ^ Greenstone, Scott (September 6, 2017). "App-savvy new Starbucks COO is the first woman, black person in company's highest echelon".
  23. ^ Wahba, Phil. "Starbucks Has Recruited the Former CEO of Sam's Club to Run Its Operations".
  24. ^ Guynn, Jessica. "Amazon names black Starbucks exec Rosalind Brewer to all-white board in 'barrier-breaking' appointment". USA Today.
  25. ^ McGrath, Maggie. "Breaking The 'Concrete' Ceiling: Roz Brewer To Become The S&P 500's Only Black Female CEO". Forbes. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  26. ^ Hirsch, Lauren (January 27, 2021). "Walgreens picks a Starbucks executive to be its C.E.O." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  27. ^ Anderson, Sarah (August 29, 2024). "Executive Excess 2024: The "Low Wage 100" corporations are enriching CEOs at the expense of workers and long-term investment" (PDF). Institute for Policy Studies. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  28. ^ "Walgreens CEO Brewer abruptly steps down after less than three years in role". Reuters. September 1, 2023. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  29. ^ Bowman, Jerry (January 14, 2025). "Why Walgreen's Stock Tumbled 64% in 2024". Yahoo Finance. p. 1.
  30. ^ Lystra, Tony. "Roz Brewer will step down from Amazon's board before joining Walgreens".
  31. ^ "Lockheed Martin Nominates Rosalind G. Brewer To Board Of Directors".
  32. ^ "Molson Coors Appoints Rosalind G. Brewer to its Board of Directors".
  33. ^ a b "Roz Brewer | 2020 Most Powerful Women". Fortune. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  34. ^ "Top 10 Most Powerful Moms of 2013". Working Mother. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  35. ^ "Rosalind Brewer- C'84". Spelman.edu. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  36. ^ Mason, Corinne. "Reaching the Summit: Leadership Lessons from Successful Women – Rosalind Brewer". Summit Leadership Partners.
  37. ^ Gross, Elana Lyn; Voytko, Lisette; McGrath, Maggie (June 2, 2021). "The New Golden Age". Forbes. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  38. ^ "Rosalind "Roz" Brewer". Michigan Women Forward. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  39. ^ "Meet USA TODAY's Women of the Year". USA Today. March 28, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  40. ^ a b c d e O'Brien, Sara Ashley. "Sam's Club CEO takes heat for diversity comments". CNN Business.
  41. ^ Gayle, Damien. "Arrest of two black men at Starbucks for 'trespassing' sparks protests". The Guardian.
  42. ^ [1] Forbes, "Power Women: Rosalind Brewer," 2018
  43. ^ Reyes, Juliana Feliciano. "Starbucks' CEO on racial training: We want to confront our biases 'and disrupt them'". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rosalind_Brewer&oldid=1275026416"