• by Sarah Mahoney , May 6, 2022

Walgreens is bringing new talent into the C-suite, adding a new chief marketing officer, chief product officer and chief merchandising officer. It also agreed to a massive settlement, halting a jury trial in Florida where it was accused of fueling drug addiction and that state's opioid epidemic.

The Deerfield, Illinois-based company has hired Linh Peters as senior vice president and CMO, replacing Patrick McLean, who left earlier this year after a two-year stint at the company. Peters had been global CMO at Calvin Klein. She's held similar roles at Starbucks, Target and Ulta Beauty.

Luke Rauch, the drug chain's new chief merchandising officer, moves from his post as chief of staff to Roz Brewer, the company's CEO. Before that, he worked as the chain's group vice president, owned brands and customer experience.

And Bala Visalatha signs on in the newly created role of chief product officer, leading product strategy, development and user experience. He had been vice president of ecommerce at Walmart U.S., where he helped launch its new app and website.

Walgreens, embroiled in a trial in Florida for its role in the opioid epidemic, agreed to a $683 million settlement. That includes $63 million for attorneys' fees due immediately and $620 million to the state over 18 years.

Walgreens is the 12^th and final defendant in Florida's landmark effort to claw back money for victims, including addiction treatment. Earlier, CVS agreed to pay $484 million. Florida's attorney general, in a statement, said Walgreens' share brings the total settlement to $3 billion.

 "Before taking office, I vowed to seek accountability for the opioid crisis, and with this final action, I can now say we have successfully accomplished our mission," says Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, in a statement. "The more than $3 billion secured through years of determined legal work will go to communities devastated by opioids. Our hope is this money, paid out over the next two decades, will save lives and help Florida families and communities heal."

Walgreens says the settlement includes "no admission of wrongdoing or liability."

"As the largest pharmacy chain in the state, we remain focused on and committed to being part of the solution, and believe this resolution is in the best interest of all parties involved and the communities we serve across Florida," says Danielle Gray, the company's executive vice president and global chief legal officer, in its announcement.

The company is facing a similar trial in San Francisco, where the city says it helped create a "public nuisance," flooding the city with prescription opioids.

That case also involves drugmakers Teva and AbbVie's Allergan unit and drug distributor Anda Inc, which Teva owns.