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Albertsons names Omer Gajial to lead pharmacy, health care

Former Amazon, PepsiCo executive takes over after exit of Mark Panzer

Russell Redman

September 23, 2020

2 Min Read
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Omer Gajial will lead one of the nation’s largest retail pharmacy operations. Albertsons has 1,726 pharmacies among its 2,252 retail stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia.Albertsons

Former Amazon and PepisCo executive Omer Gajial has joined Albertsons Cos. as senior vice president of pharmacy and health.

Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons announced Gajial’s appointment in a post on the company’s LinkedIn page. He fills the vacancy left by Mark Panzer, who last month departed the company to pursue other interests after more than four years in the role.

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In coming to Albertsons, Gajial (left) will lead one of the nation’s largest retail pharmacy operations. The second-largest U.S. supermarket operator, Albertsons operates 1,726 pharmacies among its 2,252 retail stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia.

“My vision is to create a customer-centric, integrated health care business that offers convenient, timely and innovative solutions to our customers,” Gajial said in a statement in the LinkedIn post.

Most recently, Gajial served as general manager of category development for North America at Amazon. He joined the e-tail giant in January 2016 as general manager of softlines and consumables for Amazon Marketplace.

Before Amazon, Gajial spent more than 15 years at PepsiCo, most recently as vice president of global strategy, category management and insights for the food and beverage company’s Walmart customer team, a role he held for over three years. He also held various director roles at Pepsi and, earlier, served as regional marketing manager for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia and as franchise and marketing manager.

Related:Albertsons to offer at-home COVID-19 test kits

Panzer had served as senior vice president of pharmacy, health and wellness at Albertsons Cos. since May 2015, replacing Darren Singer. He joined Albertsons from Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, where he was president and CEO for seven years. Panzer also is former executive of American Drug Stores and Rite Aid and served as senior vice president of sales and marketing in an earlier stint at Albertsons after its 1999 merger with American Stores. Panzer also was chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) for the 2018-19 term.

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About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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