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SAN JOSE, Calif. — Steve Roath, former chief executive officer of Longs Drug Stores, has been named to the board of directors at Altierre Corp., a provider of ultra-low-power wireless technology that enables e-signage and pricing solutions for retailers.
Altierre said Monday that Roath’s participation on the board will provide both technology and retail insight. The company’s wireless technology is operating in more than 1,000 retail stores nationwide, including several of the country’s largest department store, grocery, drug and convenience store chains.
"The addition of Steve Roath to our board affirms that industry leaders who understand the power of our technology believe in its ability to solve critical problems and deliver productivity improvements for large retail chains," Altierre CEO Sunit Saxena said in a statement. "In addition to his wealth of contacts, we will benefit tremendously from Steve’s insider perspective into the complexities of retail management, both at the store and the chain level."
Roath, who became president of Longs in 1991 and CEO in 2000, is credited with moving the drug chain into e-commerce by its first e-mail prescription refill system, according to Altierre. He retired in 2002. The Long Drug stores were acquired by CVS Caremark Corp. in 2008.
"Online retailing is adding a dynamic element to the already highly competitive retail environment. Brick-and-mortar retailers have to become more nimble and dynamic in their promotional offerings without further increasing the complexities of store level execution. Even with traditional weekly offerings, most retailers are challenged to maintain price accuracy and customer service in the face of shrinking resource availability," Roath stated. "It is time for retailers to leverage the latest developments in technology, get ahead of the delays, errors and costs of store execution, and compete like online retailers.
"Altierre’s wireless platform and applications offer sophistication and innovation that far surpass anything else I’ve seen in their ability to cost-effectively enable promotions, reduce paper waste, assure price accuracy and impact the bottom line," he added. "I’m truly excited to be associated with what I consider to be a revolution for retail."
