Former Starbucks ceo Donald appointed to Rite Aid board

CAMP HILL, Pa. Rite Aid’s Board of Directors Wednesday morning announced the appointment of Jim Donald, former president and chief executive officer of Starbucks, to the board.

Donald will fill the seat on the 14-member board vacated by Robert Mariano, who was elected in June 2006 for a three-year term and has resigned, the company reported.

Donald, 54, joined Starbucks in October 2002 as president, North America, where he managed business development and operations for all Starbuck stores in the U.S. and Canada and in March 2005, was promoted to president and chief executive officer. During his tenure, the company grew to more than 15,000 stores in 43 countries. Prior to joining Starbucks, Donald served from 1996 to 2002 as chairman, president and chief executive officer of Pathmark Stores, an East Coast regional supermarket chain.

His more than 30 years in retailing includes being handpicked by Sam Walton to help lead Wal-Mart’s development and expansion of the Wal-Mart Super Center, where he oversaw all merchandising, distribution, store design and real estate operations from 1991 to 1994. He has also served in a variety of senior management positions with Albertson’s and Safeway, where he had a reputation for improving the financial performance of stores under his supervision.

Donald’s term will expire at the company’s annual meeting in June 2009, at which time he is expected to stand for re-election.

Donald received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Century University in Albuquerque, N.M.