CVS CEO Exit Ends Promising Era of Women Heading Pharmacy Chains

Big US pharmacy chains were held up as a sign of progress a few years ago as three women became chief executive officers at the same time. But with Karen Lynch’s ouster Friday from CVS Health Corp., they now are all gone after each company struggled.

Lynch, Rosalind Brewer at Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. and Heyward Donigan at Rite Aid Corp. overlapped for 22 months from March 2021 to Donigan’s departure in January of last year. Brewer followed in August 2023.

Women still hold 45 CEO jobs in the S&P 500, likely near a record, including health care companies ...