Rick Gates

Chief Pharmacy Officer | Board Leader | Driving Pharmacy Innovation at Scale As Chief Pharmacy Officer at Walgreens, I lead all aspects of our U.S. retail pharmacy business—shaping strategy, driving operational performance, and modernizing care delivery at one of the most trusted brands in healthcare. With 30 years at Walgreens, I bring deep frontline experience and enterprise-level leadership to the evolving role of pharmacy in the U.S. healthcare system. I’ve built and led high-impact teams focused on strategic execution, operational transformation, and delivering measurable outcomes across thousands of retail locations. My leadership spans care delivery, policy advocacy, supply chain, and payer partnerships. I serve on the boards of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), Innovation Associates (iA), University of Health Science and Pharmacy, and have served on board including Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA), AllianceRx, and the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy Leadership Board—helping advance the profession, influence national healthcare policy, and invest in the next generation of pharmacy leaders.