Leadership
At AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy, our leadership is committed to providing the best possible patient experience, while focused on making medicine as affordable and accessible as possible. They are committed to this purpose every day.
Executive Leadership Team
Joel Wright
Chief Executive Officer
Previously, Wright was divisional vice president of Walgreens Specialty Solutions Group where, under his leadership,
Previously, Wright was divisional vice president of Walgreens Specialty Solutions Group where, under his leadership, they executed a successful go-to-market strategy for five central specialty and 250 local specialty pharmacies throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Joel Wright, RPh, is chief executive officer (CEO) of AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy, one of the largest specialty and home delivery pharmacies in the country. Wright’s impressive track record setting strategy, building teams, and leading complex projects and services in both retail operations and specialty pharmacy is a culmination of nearly 30 years in the pharmacy industry.
As CEO, Wright leads an organization of more than 2,500 team members in five locations across the country. Since standing up the organization in 2017, Wright has been instrumental in developing partnerships with pharmaceutical manufacturers to gain access to more than 200 limited distribution medications, leading innovative digital solutions to offer enhanced experiences for patients and providers, and identifying ways to improve measurable outcomes for patients and the entire organization. He works tirelessly to offer utilization and adherence programs while managing and minimizing patient out-of-pocket costs.
Before becoming CEO, Wright was divisional vice president of Walgreens Specialty Solutions Group. In that role, Wright developed and executed a successful go-to-market strategy for five central specialty and 250 local specialty pharmacies throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Previously, Wright held a variety of leadership roles of increasing responsibility at Walgreens.
Wright earned a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Ferris State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He completed the Executive Management Program for Pharmacy Leaders at University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.
Tracey James
Chief Operating Officer
With more than 20 years of learning and excelling in various aspects of the health care industry, James' background includes specialty pharmacy,
With more than 20 years of learning and excelling in various aspects of the health care industry, James' background includes specialty pharmacy, oncology solutions, pharmacy benefit management, pharmacy compliance, clinical practice, program start up and implementation, and managed care.
As AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy’s chief operating officer, Tracey James, RPh, leads the company’s pharmaceutical and payer relations, clinical and professional services, and Specialty360 Therapy Teams.
A registered pharmacist, James joined AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy at the company’s inception in 2017, serving most recently as senior vice president of pharmacy services. James and the pharmacy services team help ensure the highest quality performance in the areas of patient access, patient and financial services, outcomes-based clinical metrics, total patient solution management, contracting, advocacy, pharmacovigilance, and distribution, specifically for limited distribution products.
An accomplished pharmacy leader, James has spent more than 25 years learning and excelling in various aspects of the health care industry. Her strong and varied background includes experience in specialty pharmacy, oncology solutions, pharmacy benefit management, pharmacy compliance, clinical practice, program startup and implementation, and managed care.
James holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from The Ohio State University.
Alex Katen
Chief Financial Officer
With a history of roles at Walgreens, Katen served as vice president of finance for the long-term care pharmacy;
With a history of roles at Walgreens, Katen served as vice president of finance for the long-term care pharmacy; finance partner for the health system solutions; and finance officer supporting retail pharmacy market access, pharmacy procurement, and enterprise specialty.
With a history of roles at Walgreens, Katen served as vice president of finance for the long-term care pharmacy; finance partner for the health system solutions; and finance officer supporting retail pharmacy market access, pharmacy procurement, and enterprise specialty.
Prior to joining Walgreens, Katen worked as a finance professional in the healthcare industry filling roles as the vice president of finance for Liberty Medical Supply Pharmacy; director of finance for Akamai Technologies; and healthcare investment banking financial analyst for First Union Securities.
Katen received his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and later earned his Master of Accountancy degree from Wake Forest University.
John Stephens
Senior Vice President, Strategy and Growth
As a member of the pharmacy’s leadership team, Stephens directs the organization’s enterprise planning initiatives; payer product, marketing, communication and sales functions;
As a member of the pharmacy’s leadership team, Stephens directs the organization’s enterprise planning initiatives; payer product, marketing, communication and sales functions; and patient experience strategies and initiatives to drive the highest possible outcomes and patient satisfaction.
As a member of the pharmacy’s leadership team, Stephens directs the organization’s enterprise planning initiatives; payer product, marketing and sales functions; and patient and provider experience strategies and initiatives to drive the highest possible outcomes and patient satisfaction. He also serves as corporate secretary for the organization.
Prior to joining AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy, Stephens consulted for various global and Fortune 500 clients across financial services, pharmaceutical and pharmacy industries on growth strategies and execution while employed by Slalom and IBM Global Business Services.
Stephens is a native of Chicago. He attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and served as a Management Fellow. He also holds an Executive MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.
Tuck Tucker
Chief Human Resources Officer
A proven human resources professional, Tucker brings more than 20 years of experience launching leadership development and succession planning,
A proven human resources professional, Tucker brings more than 20 years of experience launching leadership development and succession planning, initiating strong company culture including diversity training, and driving human resources efficiencies to avoid loss of people and resources.
A proven human resources professional, Tucker brings more than 20 years of experience launching leadership development and succession planning, initiating strong company culture including diversity training, and driving human resources efficiencies to avoid loss of people and resources.
Tucker was most recently with Dover Corporation where he led human resources functions for the refrigeration and food equipment, and energy departments. He’s held additional leadership roles at Datamax-O’Neil Corporation, Danaher Corporation and Apex Tool Group.
Tucker received his Master of Science and Bachelor of Science from Clemson University.