Rite Aid names new COO

A little less than two months after naming a new CEO, Rite Aid also has a new COO. The Camp Hill, Pa.-based retailer announced Thursday that Jim Peters would be assuming the position from Bryan Everett, who is stepping down to pursue other career opportunities, according to Rite Aid. 

Peters will be charged with overseeing the company’s pharmacy and clinical strategy development and execution; health plan, health system and strategic relationships; marketing and merchandising; and corporate development, strategy and communications. He joins Rite Aid from strategic healthcare advisory firm Skyward Health, where he was CEO. Prior to that, he was a senior executive with Geisinger Health System, helping establish the company’s reputation for healthcare innovation. Previously, Peters was a principal with Updata Capital, a venture capital firm focused on software, data analytics and health information technology. 

“Jim is a seasoned healthcare executive with health innovation, corporate development, strategy and healthcare provider-payor operating experience,” said Rite Aid CEO Heyward Donigan. “As our industry continues to evolve and Rite Aid charts our go-forward strategy, Jim’s strong track record of leadership and acting as a change agent to rejuvenate brand perception is exactly what Rite Aid needs to propel our business forward.”

Everett joined Rite Aid in 2015 as executive vice president of store operations, before being named COO of Rite Aid stores in September 2017. In March, he took over as COO following the departure of Kermit Crawford, who left the company amid a restructuring that also kicked off the hunt for a successor to former CEO John Standley, which ended up being Donigan. 

The announcement comes on the heels of Rite Aid's second-quarter earnings results, which saw the company beat estimates, but posting a $78.7 million net loss for the period.