Salt Lake City, UT (April 8, 2025) – Associated Food Stores (AFS) today announced several key leadership promotions within its pharmacy division, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, operational excellence and delivering outstanding patient care across its service area.
Eliseo Faz has been elevated to Senior Vice President of Pharmacy, where he will oversee all pharmacy operations across the company. In addition, Chris Sheard has been promoted to Vice President of ARO Pharmacy Operations, overseeing AFS’ corporate store pharmacy efforts and succeeding Shawna Hanson following her retirement. (More details about Shawna’s retirement will be provided in an upcoming issue of Team News.) Sam Haddadin will now serve as Vice President of AFS Pharmacy Operations.
“These leaders bring a wealth of knowledge, vision and energy to our pharmacy team at a critical time,” said David Rice, president and CEO of Associated Food Stores. “Our focus on pharmacy modernization is central to our broader retail strategy, and I have every confidence that Eliseo, Chris and Sam will help us build a future-ready pharmacy operation that meets the evolving needs of our guests.”
The new leadership team will guide AFS’s pharmacy modernization efforts, which include implementing new processes and exploring innovations such as central fill automation. These initiatives are designed to streamline operations, reduce the administrative burden on store-level pharmacists and ultimately support better patient outcomes and more personalized care.
“Chris is a trusted and experienced leader who understands the ARO store model inside and out,” said Darin Peirce, president of ARO. “His deep operational knowledge and passion for pharmacy make him the right choice to lead this next chapter of our exciting future.”
Executive Vice President Justin Atwater also praised the new appointments, highlighting the impact they will have across the organization. “Eliseo has been instrumental in shaping our strategic direction and ensuring pharmacy remains a trusted healthcare resource in our communities,” he said. “Sam’s promotion reflects his strong leadership and dedication to driving continuous improvement in our store-level pharmacy operations.”
As AFS continues investing in innovation and patient-centered care, the new pharmacy leadership team is poised to build on a strong foundation and lead the department into the future.
For additional information, photos or interviews, please contact Elizabeth Barnett at 801-978-8466 or at elbarnett@afstores.com.