December 2014 news update: Walgreens, Express Scripts, Diplomat, AmerisourceBergen, and CVS Health

December at last! It’s time for our final news roundup of 2014. To help you with the next four nights of Hanukkah, here are four stories that go behind the headlines and highlight notable individuals atop some well-known drug channels companies.

• Greg Wasson, Walgreen—A behind-the-scenes look at his departure

• Steve Miller, Express Scripts—A humanizing profile of this vocal PBM executive

• Phil Hagerman, Diplomat Pharmacy—A cool first-person perspective on growth and going public

• Peyton Howell, AmerisourceBergen—A worthwhile peek at ABC’s global ambitions

Plus, The Onion reports that CVS is having trouble quitting cigarette sales. It’s your must-read article of the week!

How Greg Wasson lost control of Walgreen, Crain’s Chicago Business
Brigid Sweeney delves into the high-level machinations that led to Greg Wasson’s departure from Walgreens. The headline below Wasson’s photo: “Walgreen President and CEO Greg Wasson is out of a job. Here's why.” Ouch. More background in Walgreens Loses Its CEO: How Did We Get Here?

Express Scripts to Center Stage, Pharmaceutical Executive
Read how Express Scripts Chief Medical Officer Dr. Steve Miller went from academic drug discovery to the most prominent critic of pharmaceutical industry pricing.

Diplomat—From Family-Owned Community Pharmacy to NYSE IPO!, Specialty Pharma Journal
Phil Hagerman, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board of Diplomat Pharmacy, outlines his leadership philosophy and explains how Diplomat Pharmacy became the only publicly-traded specialty pharmacy. Fascinating insights a true specialty pharmacy visionary.

AmerisourceBergen: A Burgeoning Giant Steps Out, Pharmaceutical Executive
Peyton Howell, AmerisourceBergen’s President, Global Sourcing and Manufacturer Relations, outlines her view on global opportunities. Useful perspective from a front-runner to be ABC’s next CEO.

Stressed-Out CVS Back To Selling Cigarettes After Only 3 Months, The Onion
Oh, sweet The Onion, you never disappoint me.