Rosalind G. Brewer

Recently, Rosalind Gates Brewer, C'84, was named CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., a merger of an American company that operates as the second-largest pharmacy store chain in the United States and Switzerland-based Alliance Boots, a multinational pharmacy-led health and beauty group.

Her appointment makes her the only Black woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Previously, Brewer was Group President and Chief Operating Officer of the Starbucks Corporation and sits on the Seattle company's board.

Prior to her work at Starbucks, Brewer, who joined Walmart in 2006, became president and CEO at Walmart-owned Sam’s Club. When Brewer joined Sam’s Club in 2012, she brought a wealth of talent to the members-only warehouse operating segment responsible for serving the needs of individual and small-business members. She joined Wal-Mart in 2006 as regional vice president responsible for overseeing operations in Georgia. She became division president of the Southeast and later president of Wal-Mart East. Prior to joining Wal-Mart, Brewer worked for 22 years at Kimberly-Clark Corp. where she started as a scientist and eventually becoming president of the Global Nonwovens Sector in 2004.

Throughout her career, Brewer has served as a high-impact strategist with experience spanning global manufacturing operations, research and development, marketing and strategic business unit leadership. She has focused relentlessly on revenue growth and customer satisfaction and has extensive expertise in turn-around assignments. Brewer is also known for building strong teams, inspiring mentoring networks and having a passion for improving communities.

A savvy business strategist and corporate leader, Brewer sits on the board of Lockheed Martin Corp. and is the recipient of the Spelman College Legacy of Leadership award. In 2013, 2014, and 2020, she was named one of the “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” by Forbes; and in 2010 and 2011, Fortune magazine named her one of the “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.” A 1984 graduate of Spelman, Brewer has served on the reunion planning committee and worked with student recruitment and mentoring initiatives.