Ralph Petri named to Kerr’s board

RALEIGH, N.C. Kerr Drug pharmacy veteran Ralph Petri has been appointed to the company’s board of directors following more than a decade of senior management service with the regional chain innovator.

Petri serves as executive vice president of pharmacy and supply chain operations for Kerr. His long career in retail pharmacy includes a 28-year career with the former Thrift Drug, where he rose to vice president of merchandise and distribution. After that Pittsburgh-based chain bought Rome, N.Y.-based Fay’s Drug in 1996, Petri became senior vice president of the newly acquired company. Petri was serving as Vice President of Merchandise for the Eckerd Corp.—a position he assumed in the wake of the Thrift/Eckerd merger—when he returned to the newly formed Kerr Drug in 1997, rejoining former Thrift colleagues led by Kerr’s current chairman, president and chief executive officer, Tony Civello.

“Ralph carries with him many, many years of broad-based experience in drug stores,” said Civello. “His tenure in the merchandising and pharmacy business has made his contributions invaluable.

“He is widely-admired and respected in the industry,” added Kerr’s top executive. “Old-timers and newcomers alike admire not only his brilliant strategic thinking but his cordiality. He will add new dimension to the board’s direction.”