CAMP HILL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) today announced that Ken Black, Rite Aid’s current group vice president of compensation, benefits and shared services, has been named senior vice president and chief human resources officer, effective immediately. He is succeeding Dedra N. Castle, who is leaving the company for personal health reasons.

“On behalf of the entire Rite Aid team, I thank Dedra for her many significant contributions to our company,” said Rite Aid Chairman and CEO John Standley. “Since joining our team, Dedra has been a passionate leader who was always focused on making Rite Aid a better place to work and a better place to shop. She has played a key role in launching initiatives that support an outstanding associate and customer experience while also providing new ways for our associates to recognize each other.”

“Ken is a strong, experienced Rite Aid leader and a valuable asset to our team,” said Standley. “Our company will continue to benefit from his extensive knowledge and expertise as he takes on this new role within our organization.”

In this position, Black will report to Standley and be responsible for all aspects of human resources, including training, recruitment, talent management, compensation and benefits, labor relations, leadership development and diversity.

Black joined Rite Aid in 2003 as the company’s vice president of tax. He held various positions within the finance department throughout his career at Rite Aid before being named group vice president of compensation and benefits in 2010. In 2014, he earned a master’s degree in human resources development from Villanova University in Villanova, Pa.

Prior to joining Rite Aid, Black was a senior tax manager for Deloitte. He also held various corporate tax positions for Union Pacific Corporation and NBC.

Black, a certified public accountant, earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Pa.

Rite Aid Corporation is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains with nearly 4,600 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia and fiscal 2016 annual revenues of $30.7 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company's website at www.riteaid.com.

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