DEERFIELD, Ill. — Dana Green, executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary at Walgreen Co., is retiring after 37 years with the company and is being replaced by Thomas Sabatino.
Walgreens said Monday that Sabatino, who will have the same title, is slated to take over the post effective Sept. 12.
The 52-year-old Sabatino joins the drug store chain after having held general counsel roles with United Airlines, Schering-Plough, Baxter International and American Medical International.
"With each of these companies, Thomas acted as a close advisor to the CEO on central issues each organization faced," Walgreens president and chief executive officer Greg Wasson said in a statement. "His extensive background in health care and extraordinary legal experience make him a perfect fit for the organization as we move forward with our core strategies."
After beginning his career with a law firm and then moving into corporate law, Sabatino was named president and CEO in 1990 of privately held medical products manufacturer and distributor Secure Medical of Mundelein, Ill., according to Walgreens. In 1992, he joined American Medical International, a Dallas-based for-profit hospital chain with 40 acute care hospitals. Three years later, he joined Baxter International and was named senior vice president and general counsel for the company in 1997.
Sabatino moved to Schering-Plough in 2004 as executive vice president and general counsel for global law and public affairs. He left Schering-Plough in November 2009 after its merger with Merck & Co. In March 2010, he was appointed general counsel of United Airlines and took a leading role in its merger talks with Continental Airlines. Sabatino left United Continental Holdings earlier this year after completion of the merger.
Green, 61, joined Walgreens in 1974 as an attorney in employee relations. She became director of that department before being promoted to divisional vice president of employee relations in 1998, the company said. She was named corporate vice president of human resources in 2000 and promoted to senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary in 2004. In 2010, she was named executive vice president.
"The clear legal counsel and advice, as well as strong ethical foundation and support for team members that Dana provided to the company throughout her career, contributed greatly to Walgreens’ growth and success during each year she was with the company," Wasson stated. "Each member of the management team at Walgreens can thank her for the guidance and support she provided to them at some point in their career. All of us in the Walgreens family wish Dana and her family the best in her retirement."
