Rosalind Brewer
American business executive and chemist
Rosalind G. Brewer (born 1962) is an American businesswoman and former CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, before stepping down in September 2023. 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
From Wikipedia’s article on Rosalind Brewer (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Born 1962.1
About
She served as the interim president of Spelman College, and as a member of the President's Export Council.
USA Today referred to her as "one of corporate America's most prominent women and black female executives." Brewer has been called a "Highly Powerful Woman" by Forbes and Fortune magazines.
From Wikipedia’s article on Rosalind Brewer, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2
Companies
- Walgreens Boots AllianceBoard member Mar 15, 2021 to now13
Early life and education
- Date not recordedSpelman College Bachelor of Science; chemistry3
- Date not recordedStanford Law School3
- Date not recordedCass Technical High School3
- Date not recordedUniversity of Chicago3
- Date not recordedBooth School of Business3
- Date not recordedUniversity of Pennsylvania3
Rosalind Brewer was born in 1962 in Detroit, Michigan, the youngest of five children; they were the first generation in her family to attend college. Due to her inclination for math and science, Brewer was interested in pursuing a career as a physician.
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. 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, as well as the advanced management program at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
From Wikipedia’s article on Rosalind Brewer (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Career
Occupation: chemist, businessperson.7
- Since 2021Board member, Walgreens Boots Alliance5
- Since 2006Worked at Walmart4
- Date not recordedWorked at Kimberly-Clark4
- Date not recordedChief executive officer6
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. She has been a non-executive director at Lockheed Martin and Molson Coors Brewing Company. 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. in 2024 she became a limited partner in the Atlanta Falcons ownership group.
Kimberly-Clark (1984-2006)
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. From 1988 to 1998, she held numerous leadership roles including market manager, and director for Skincare. Between 1998 and 2006, Brewer served as the vice president of Kimberly-Clark's Nonwovens division. Brewer had a 22-year career at Kimberly-Clark Corporation.
Walmart and Sam's Club (2006-2017)
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. 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.
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. She focused on health and wellness by doubling the number of organic products offered at Sam's Clubs. As CEO of Sam's Club, Brewer became the first black person to lead a Walmart division. She retired from her role at Sam's Club in 2017.
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Starbucks (2017-2021)
On February 1, 2017, Brewer was nominated for the Starbucks board of directors. On September 6, 2017, was named COO and group president. 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. She led businesses and operations in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
Walgreens Boots Alliance (2021-2023)
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.
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.
In September 2023, Brewer agreed to step down as CEO in September 2023 after being in the role for two years. Under Brewer's tenure as CEO, the company's stock declined 47%.
Board memberships
Brewer was a member of the board of directors at Amazon from 2019 to 2021. She was a director of Lockheed Martin from 2011 to 2017, and Molson Coors Brewing Company from 2006 to 2011.
From Wikipedia’s article on Rosalind Brewer (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Personal life
Brewer is married to John Brewer, and they have two children.
From Wikipedia’s article on Rosalind Brewer (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Awards
Links
Sources
The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.
- 1WikidataRosalind Brewer on Wikidata
- 2WikipediaRosalind Brewer on Wikipedia
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- 12Wikidataaward, as reported
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