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CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has appointed Bryan Shirtliff senior vice president of business development, a new position at the company.
The drug store chain said Tuesday that Shirtliff, who was senior vice president of category management, will be charged with developing merchandising initiatives to support the retailer’s store segmentation strategy, which involves grouping stores with similar characteristics and creating a unique business plan for each group. His responsibilities also will include developing nonpharmacy opportunities.
Shirtliff, 49, has more than 26 years of experience in retail and chain drug merchandising, according to Rite Aid. He joined Rite Aid in 1998 as a director in category management, advancing to positions of increasing responsibility in category management and being named senior vice president of category management in May 2003. Before joining Rite Aid, Shirtliff was vice president of health and beauty care and general merchandise for the Bruno’s supermarket chain. And from 1983 to 1996, he held various positions at the former American Stores Co., most recently senior marketing manager for health and beauty.
Plans call for Shirtliff to begin in the new position in mid-February, and he will continue to report to Ken Martindale, senior executive vice president of merchandising, marketing and logistics.
"We expect to see significant benefit from our segmentation strategy this year and are excited about some of the new merchandising initiatives under development," Martindale said in a statement. "Segmentation is one of our top priorities, and Bryan will play a key role as we expand some of our pilot programs into broader market areas. His extensive experience in chain drug store merchandising will be a tremendous asset in developing new programs and implementing them."
Taking over for Shirtliff as senior vice president of category management will be retail industry veteran Tony Montini, 57, who returns to the post he held at Rite Aid before joining advertising agency Marc USA in 2004 and becoming its executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Montini also formerly oversaw Kmart’s drug store business, and his chain drug experience includes various roles at retailers Revco, Reliable, Gray Drugfair, and Thrift. He also had served as vice president of purchasing at Rite Aid from 1987 to 1989.
"Tony brings extensive and broad-based retail and chain drug store experience to this position," Martindale commented. "His intimate knowledge of Rite Aid, having both worked here and with us at Marc Advertising, is a major advantage and will allow for a very smooth transition."
