Foulkes proves to be a worthy asset for CVS

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The news that CVS Caremark has named Helena Foulkes EVP and chief healthcare strategy and marketing officer undoubtedly is significant, as she will be responsible for integrating all the company's capabilities in branding, communications and healthcare-reform strategy to forge even stronger partnerships and further improve pharmacy care delivery. The responsibilities of this newly created position will be no small feat, indeed, but clearly those at 1 CVS Drive are more than confident in her abilities.

(THE NEWS: CVS Caremark names Helena Foulkes EVP, chief healthcare strategy and marketing officer. For the full story, click here.)

But what is especially important to note is that it isn't just about what people think of Foulkes inside the walls of 1 CVS Drive; people in the industry think she's tops. Upon hearing the news of Foulkes' promotion, several industry members took the time to comment on her promotion on Drug Store News' Facebook page. David Biernbaum, president and senior consultant at David Biernbaum & Associates, wrote: "Helena has always been on the leading edge. Congratulations, Helena!"

Executives from Pace Shave wrote: "Big congratulations to Helena — she definitely deserved it. Can't wait to see what the coming months bring!"

Meanwhile, the governor of Rhode Island in early 2011 appointed her vice chair of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation Board, making her the board's first female vice chair.

She has been one of the brightest, fastest-rising stars of the retail pharmacy industry for more than a decade, even a bit of a retail prodigy in a sense, given that she was just 35 years old when she took on the massive challenge of building what has become one of the most successful loyalty programs in all of retailing — from scratch. Today, the ExtraCare loyalty program boasts more than 65 million active members.