By Tess Stynes
Walgreen Co. said Chief Executive Greg Wasson plans to retire
after the drug-store chain's acquisition of the remaining 55% stake
in Alliance Boots GmbH that it doesn't already own.
The company said that Stefano Pessina, executive chairman of
Alliance Boots, will serve as acting CEO, pending a board search
for a successor.
When the deal was announced in August, Mr. Wasson, who has been
CEO since 2009, was expected to have the same role in the combined
company--called Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.
Alliance Boots Executive Chairman Stefano Pessina was expected
to be the executive vice chairman of Walgreens Boots.
Mr. Wasson,who joined the drugstore chain in 1980 as a pharmacy
intern, is expected to retire shortly after the close of the second
step of the Alliance Boots transaction, on which shareholders are
scheduled to vote on Dec. 29.
After the deal closes, Walgreens Chairman James Skinner will
become Walgreens Boots Alliance's executive chairman.
Write to Tess Stynes at tess.stynes@wsj.com
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