Walgreens names Optum’s Jason Stenta as chief commercial officer

(Reuters) – Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA) named ex-Optum executive Jason Stenta as the company’s chief commercial officer on Monday.

Stenta will lead the company’s commercial growth strategy and developing its business-to-business healthcare services, Walgreens said.

He has also been tasked with improving partnerships with payers such as insurers, as well as health system providers and life sciences companies, the company added.

The move comes at a time when U.S. pharmacy chains have been closing underperforming stores due to weak consumer spending hurting retail operations. Walgreens had also cut its annual profit forecast in June.

Stenta was earlier the senior vice president, payer sales at insurer UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH)’s unit, Optum. Before that, he also held leadership roles at healthcare conglomerate CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) for 10 years.

Walgreens said Stenta begins his new role this month.