Kermit Crawford, President of Pharmacy, Health, Wellness Services & Solutions, at Walgreens, is Spring Commencement Speaker
Kermit Crawford, President of Pharmacy, Health, Wellness Services & Solutions, at Walgreens Co.will
be the keynote speaker for the spring 2013 commencement on May 11, 2013 in the Health
and Physical Education Arena located on the campus of Texas Southern University.
Kermit Crawford is president of the pharmacy, health and wellness division for Walgreens,
headquartered in Deerfield, Ill., where he is leading the advancement of community
pharmacy to play a greater role in healthcare through integration and expanded services.
Crawford began his career with Walgreens as a pharmacy intern in 1983. He advanced
through company ranks, holding positions from pharmacist to store and district manager
to vice president of store operations. In 2004, he was named Walgreens Health Services
vice president of PBM (pharmacy benefit management) services and in 2005, was promoted
to executive vice president of PBM services and a corporate vice president for Walgreens,
heading up all aspects of strategic, operational and profit and loss management of
the company’s PBM covering more than 10 million lives.
Crawford was promoted to Walgreens senior vice president and then executive vice president
of pharmacy services in 2007 and 2010, respectively. In this role, he pioneered the
effort to transform community pharmacy from a transaction-based practice to one focused
on access to affordable, quality care. In September 2010, he was promoted to president
of the division. In 2011, his role was broadened to include leadership of all pharmacy,
health and wellness services. Crawford was honored by Chain Drug Review in 2009 as
the “Pharmacy Executive of the Year.” In 2011, Chain Drug Review named Walgreens “Retailer
of the Year” and recognized Crawford among Walgreens top five executives earning the
distinction. In 2012, Savoy Magazine named him one of the “Top 100 Most Influential
Blacks in Corporate America.” Also in 2012, Black Enterprise Magazine named Crawford
one of the “Top 100 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America.”
Crawford is a member of the board of directors of the Allstate Corporation. He also
serves on the board of directors of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores
and previously on their Policy Council Committee. He is also on the board of directors
of Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, as well as the American Diabetes Association, Northern Illinois and Indiana region. Crawford
is also a member of the board of councilors of the University of Southern California
School of Pharmacy and The Commercial Club of Chicago.
Crawford earned a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from Texas Southern University
in 1983, where he ranked second in his graduating class. His continuing education
includes a wide range of postgraduate management programs.
