CVS Health Names New COO

CVS Health recently appointed Jonathan C. Roberts to the new position of Executive Vice President and COO. He will be overseeing CVS Pharmacy services, among other job functions.

Jonathan C. RobertsRoberts is currently President of CVS Caremark, CVS’s pharmacy benefit manager, and adds on the new position, at least for a while. “Effective immediately, Roberts will oversee operations for CVS Caremark, which includes the fast-growing specialty pharmacy business, and CVS Pharmacy, which includes MinuteClinic and Omnicare,” CVS Health said in a statement. Roberts will report to Larry Merlo, President and CEO of CVS Health.

Meanwhile, CVS Health has started an internal and external search for a new president of CVS Caremark.

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"Jon is a seasoned CVS Health executive with a long history of delivering superior results across our retail and PBM businesses," Merlo said. "He is laser-focused on operational excellence, and his breadth of business and industry knowledge make him uniquely qualified to take on this new role and help advance the company's growth agenda. I have deep confidence in Jon as he has consistently demonstrated the ability to drive strategic prioritization and accountability within the organization."

Roberts will also be responsible for information technology and all pharmaceutical procurement functions for CVS Health. As COO, he will consolidate operational oversight across CVS Health's assets to achieve maximum efficiency, optimize investment of key resources, and deliver products and services that help people on their path to better health, according to the company.

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"CVS Health has a clear strategy, focused on delivering differentiated care for our patients and value for our clients and members. Fully integrating our operations is a key next step for the company as we continue to deliver value for all of our stakeholders and partners," Roberts said.

Roberts has been with CVS Health for 26 years and has held a variety of leadership roles. Prior to his appointment as president of CVS Caremark in 2012, he served as COO of the company’s pharmacy benefits management business. Roberts also served as executive vice president of pharmacy purchasing, pricing, and network relations from 2009 to 2010, and senior vice president and chief information officer from 2006 until 2008. He also served as senior vice president of store operations for CVS Pharmacy from 2002 until 2005.