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DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. has hired Jeffrey Berkowitz as senior vice president of pharmaceutical development and market access.
Walgreens said Thursday that Berkowitz comes to the company from pharmaceutical maker Merck & Co., where he was senior vice president of global market access.
In his new post at Walgreens, Berkowitz will be responsible for the company’s overall pharmacy contracting strategy, on both the pharmaceutical manufacturing and retail payer sides. And as a member of the senior management team, he will assume leadership for identifying and cultivating strategic external relationships and oversee key efforts with pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Berkowitz will report to Kermit Crawford, president of Walgreens’ pharmacy services division.
"As we continue our efforts to transform community pharmacy, Jeff will play a vital role in working with our partners in the pharmaceutical industry, and across the entire health care sector, to develop strategies in collaboration with our sales and services organization that will provide better adherence and clinical outcomes for patients," Crawford said in a statement. "In addition, Jeff’s exceptional experience, expertise and track record of growth and success in the pharmaceutical industry will be important to further enhancing our pharmacy, health and wellness solutions."
In his most recent role at Merck, Berkowitz was a member of the Merck Global Human Health Leadership Team, and his group was accountable for all activity related to access, pricing, payer marketing, health outcomes and health technology assessments worldwide, according to Walgreens.
From 2002 to 2009, Berkowitz held a variety of positions in market access, sales and marketing with Schering-Plough before its acquisition by Merck in 2009. His tenure there led to his role as group vice president of diversified products and global market access. He also served as legal director for Schering-Plough’s managed care and commercial group from 1998 to 2002. And prior to joining Schering-Plough, Berkowitz was a health care attorney for the international law firm Proskauer Rose LLP.
