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MIAMI — Navarro Discount Pharmacy has strengthened its management team with the hiring of three new executives.
The Miami-area drug store chain has named Kevin Shiplett as senior vice president of wholesale and business development, Paul DiBrito as director of real estate and construction and Emilio Yepez as director of e-commerce.
“The addition of these three new executives is part of our overall growth and expansion strategy,” says Steve Kaczynski, chief executive officer of Navarro. “Together, they’ll be working on renovating and expanding existing locations, adding locations, identifying new partnerships and business development opportunities, and adding e-commerce capabilities to our web site.”
A seasoned senior sales executive, Shiplett brings to Navarro more than 35 years of experience in retail and wholesale grocery operations, merchandising, business development and the distribution supply chain. In his new role he will focus on identifying new business opportunities with local retailers to act as distributors for Navarro’s signature products, such as cosmetics and appliances, the company says.
Previously, Shiplett served as vice president of sales for retail with the Park City Group and as vice president of business development for national accounts at Supervalu Inc. During his 17-year career at Supervalu, Shiplett directed a team that implemented a comprehensive business development strategy that improved the effectiveness of sales calls and closures, generating more than $4 billion in new sales in seven years with independent grocers, according to Navarro.
Meanwhile, DiBrito has more than 30 years of experience in the retail services industry, including operations, merchandising, and real estate and development. Before coming to the pharmacy chain, he was the principal of Cornerstone Consulting Services, a retail consulting firm.
At Navarro, DiBrito’s objectives as director of real estate and construction will entail identifying and expanding new store locations as well as remodeling the retailer’s 28 stores, three of which have already been remodeled in the last 12 months.
Yepez has 14 years of experience in operations, Web development and Internet marketing, previously serving as vice president of Web development and e-commerce strategies for ARC Media Consultants, according to Navarro.
One of his main goals at the pharmacy chain will be to develop an online platform that offers consumers difficult-to-find Hispanic items, over-the-counter health and wellness products, and specialty items currently sold only at the retailer’s brick-and-mortar stores. The new online store is intended to expand Navarro’s product offerings throughout the United States and strategic foreign markets.
