• by Sarah Mahoney  @mahoney_sarah, January 16, 2024

CVS Health has appointed Erin Condon the CMO of its pharmacy and consumer wellness segment. Condon has been filling the role on an interim basis since Norm de Greve, the previous CMO, decamped to General Motors in July of last year.

Condon, who previously had been vice president of front of store marketing and store experience, will lead brand and creative strategy for CVS’ expanding ecosystem, including scripts, front store sales and MinuteClinics. She reports to Michelle Peluso, executive vice president and chief customer and experience officer.

Following de Greve’s departure in July, CVS promoted Nicole Phillips to CMO of CVS Caremark, the company’s pharmacy benefits manager division.

Condon’s appointment comes amid continued shape-shifting at CVS, striving to become “the most customer-centric health company.” The company, which already owns Aetna, scooped up Oak Street, a healthcare service provider, for $10.6 billion last year.

Separately, CVS, based in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, announced it is closing some CVS Pharmacy in Target locations. “The pharmacy closures will begin in February and be completed by the end of April, and impacted employees will be offered comparable roles within the company,” it says in a statement emailed to Marketing Daily. “The closures are part of our plan to realign our national retail footprint and reduce store and pharmacy density and are based on our evaluation of changes in population, consumer buying patterns, and future health needs to ensure we have the right pharmacy format in the right locations for patients.”

CVS currently has more than 9,000 stores. In 2021, the company revealed plans to shrink that number by 10%, with the goal of shutting down 300 stores per year for three years, as it aimed to add more health services to remaining stores.

Last year, CVS announced it would cut 5,000 jobs to lower costs and increase profitability.

It’s not the only one in the category undergoing significant changes. Rival Walgreens is struggling to integrate its acquisitions, abruptly appointing a new CEO last fall as it navigates a complex business-model transformation. And Rite Aid entered bankruptcy protection proceedings in October.