WASHINGTON — After less than a year as chief communications officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance’s Beth Leonard has been promoted to head of corporate affairs.

In the newly created chief corporate affairs officer role, Leonard will oversee communications, government affairs and public affairs. Her 76-person team will be responsible for communications with key Walgreens stakeholders including employees, media, industry partners and policymakers at the local, state and federal levels.

Leonard’s promotion comes in conjunction with the retirement of Chuck Greener, who has served as  global chief public affairs officer for 14 years. 

Leonard will report to WBA CEO Tim Wentworth and continue serving on the executive team. She joined WBA last June, succeeding Aaron Radelet, who was appointed the company’s first CCO in 2019.

Leonard previously served as chief corporate affairs officer for the EmblemHealth family of companies, overseeing marketing, communications, public relations, government affairs and policy, community engagement, corporate social responsibility and EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care. Before that, Leonard spent eight years with America’s Health Insurance Plans, most recently as the trade association’s executive VP of public affairs and strategic initiatives.

“Beth brings 20 years of experience in strategic communications, public affairs, and marketing including integrated corporate affairs teams. I personally have come to respect Beth’s counsel, and am looking forward to working with her in this new role,” Wentworth said in a memo to staff.

Wentworth also praised Greener for his support of WBA over his career there.

Since joining the company in 2010, Chuck has been a stalwart champion for WBA. Chuck joined WBA to oversee communications, government relations and community affairs and over several years brought a valuable perspective to shaping these areas to support the business and its goals. Over more than a decade of service, Chuck has been front and center as a key player in pivotal business endeavors such as the acquisition and integration of Boots Alliance, the integration of over 2,000 Rite Aid pharmacies, and our expansion into healthcare,” he said.