John Standley steps down from his role

CAMP HILL, Pa .— Rite Aid Corp. said Monday that the board of directors has appointed Heyward Donigan as chief executive officer and a member of the board, effective immediately. As planned, John Standley will step down from his role as chief executive officer.

Heyward Donigan

“Today’s announcement is an important step in positioning Rite Aid for the future, and we are confident that Heyward is the right person to lead the company in capitalizing on the opportunities in the evolving health care environment,” said Bruce Bodaken, chairman of Rite Aid’s board. “Over the past several months the Rite Aid board conducted a thorough search, and Heyward’s strong senior executive experience, proven leadership capabilities and consistent track record of driving profitable growth, as well as her broad health care knowledge and digital shopping technology expertise set her apart. Her skillset will be invaluable as we work to deliver on the full potential of our business and create additional long-term value for our shareholders, associates, customers and patients.”

Donigan said: “I am deeply honored to have been selected to lead a company with such a strong brand, deep culture and dedicated team of associates. I see tremendous opportunity to revitalize the company’s position as a leader in meeting the health and wellness needs of customers and patients through our store and pharmacy benefit management platforms. I look forward to working with the talented Rite Aid team, as we continue to support the needs of our customers and patients and drive growth, improved performance and shareholder value.”

Bodaken continued, “On behalf of the board, I want to thank John for his numerous achievements in helping to reshape Rite Aid in the face of an evolving environment during his tenure.  In particular, I want to thank him for his leadership in guiding the company through some incredibly challenging times. His commitment to facilitating a smooth transition for Rite Aid is greatly appreciated, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

“I’d like to thank our talented Rite Aid team for their dedication and support in taking great care of our customers and patients throughout my tenure,” said Standley. “I have tremendous confidence in this team and I’m excited about the future prospects of this company.”

Donigan is a recognized leader with 30 years of experience in all aspects of the health care industry. She has a passion for building and developing strong teams to deliver innovative offerings in the market.

Most recently, she served as the president and chief executive officer of Sapphire Digital (formerly Vitals), which designs and develops omnichannel platforms that help consumers choose their best fit health care providers. Since 2015, Donigan lead Sapphire Digital’s strategy and operations to record growth and consumer engagement.

She holds a master of public administration degree from New York University. She graduated with a bachelor of arts in English from the University of Virginia.