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Wakefern’s Chris Lane named NACDS chairman

Food and drug retail veteran takes over from Albertsons’ Mark Panzer

Russell Redman

May 1, 2019

3 Min Read
Mark_Panzer_Albertsons_Chris_Lane_Wakefern_NACDS.png
Wakefern's Chris Lane (right) accepts the NACDS chairman’s gavel from Albertsons' Mark Panzer, who completed his term.Photos: NACDS

Chris Lane, executive vice president at Wakefern Food Corp., has been named chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS).

Lane, elected to the post yesterday at the NACDS Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., will serve as chairman for the 2019-20 term. He succeeds Mark Panzer, senior vice president of pharmacy, health and wellness at Albertsons Cos., who finished his chairmanship and was re-elected to a three-year term on the NACDS Board of Directors.

The NACDS board also elected Richard Ashworth, president of operations for Walgreens, as vice chairman and Rick Keyes, president and CEO of Meijer, as treasurer. Each will serve a one-year term. In addition, Keyes was elected to the NACDS Executive Committee.

Chris_Lane_Wakefern_NACDS_chairman.pngLane (left) has served as executive vice president at Wakefern, parent of ShopRite, since December 2016. He joined the Keasbey, N.J.-based grocery cooperative in 2003 as vice president of pharmacy and, in 2005, added health and beauty care to his responsibilities. He was promoted to vice president of grocery, direct-store delivery and commercial bakery in 2008, and then in 2011 he became senior vice president of nonperishables and later senior vice president of product divisions.

The food and drug retail veteran started his career as a pharmacist. Before coming to Wakefern, Lane served as vice president of pharmacy at Duane Reade.

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“While some aspects of the profession have not changed, the services performed by a pharmacist have,” Lane said Tuesday at the NACDS Annual Meeting in his first remarks as chairman. “Today, pharmacists are administering vaccines, educating patients on chronic medical conditions and managing medication therapy. For many of our customers, pharmacists are among the most trusted health care professionals they engage with. Pharmacists are often the face of health care to many communities throughout the U.S.”

Steve Anderson, president and CEO of NACDS, noted that Lane “talks passionately about pharmacy” and his experience in the field “fuels his commitment to achieving important results that advance the industry, for the ultimate good of patients and consumers.”

“NACDS chain and associate members, whose responsibilities involve the pharmacy and consumer goods alike, will appreciate Chris’ brand of leadership, and we look forward to his term as NACDS chairman of the board,” Anderson added.

Along with Panzer and Keyes, Lane was re-elected to a three-year term on the NACDS board. Also re-elected were Randy Edeker, chairman, CEO and president of Hy-Vee; Martin Otto, chief operating officer of H-E-B; Mark Griffin, president and CEO of Lewis Drug; and Bob Narveson, president and CEO of Thrifty White Pharmacy.

Related:Publix plans more in-store telehealth stations

The NACDS board also elected seven new members: Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health at The Kroger Co.; Sean Slovenski, senior vice president and president of health and wellness at Walmart; Lori Flees, senior vice president and divisional merchandising manager for health and wellness at Sam’s Club; Jocelyn Konrad, executive vice president of pharmacy and retail operations at Rite Aid; Kirk Kaminsky, president of pharmaceutical solutions and services at McKesson/Health Mart; Debbie Weitzman, president of pharmaceutical distribution at Cardinal Health/Medicine Shoppe; and Mark Peterson, CEO of Genoa Healthcare.

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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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