Rite Aid shifts Shirtliff to SVP business development

CAMP HILL, Pa. Rite Aid's SVP category management has been appointed to the position of SVP business development.

Bryan Shirtliff will be charged with developing merchandising initiatives to support the company's store segmentation strategy, which involves grouping together stores with similar characteristics and creating a unique business plan for each group. His responsibilities also include developing new business opportunities for the company's nonpharmacy business. Shirtliff will continue to report to Ken Martindale, SVP merchandising, marketing and logistics, and will assume this new position mid-February.

Shirtliff is a 26-year veteran of retail and chain drug store merchandising. He joined Rite Aid in 1998 as a director in category management, advancing to positions of increasing responsibility in category management and being named SVP category management in May 2003.

"Segmentation is one of our top priorities, and Bryan will play a key role as we expand some of our pilot programs into broader market areas. His extensive experience in chain drug store merchandising will be a tremendous asset in developing new programs and implementing them," Martindale said.

Meanwhile, Tony Montini, an executive from Rite Aid's agency of record, Marc USA, will fill Shirtliff's position as SVP category management. He will join the company in mid-February.

"Tony brings extensive and broad-based retail and chain drug store experience to this position," said Martindale. "His intimate knowledge of Rite Aid, having both worked here and with us at Marc Advertising, is a major advantage and will allow for a very smooth transition."

Montini, 57, a 33-year retail veteran with extensive experience in chain drug store merchandising and marketing, will be responsible for category management, merchandising and pricing. He joined Marc USA in 2004 as SVP and director retail marketing, then moved to his current role.