Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Timeline
Generic

Drew Frost

Chicago

Summary

Senior Marketing & Retail Media Executive Accomplished executive with 12+ years of experience driving growth, transformation, and commercialization for Fortune 50 retailers and emerging brands. Lead Walgreens’ retail media business, overseeing a 50+ person organization with 9 direct reports. Known for scaling Lowe’s Retail Media Network to 300% revenue growth in 18 months, launching Sam’s Club’s first Super Bowl commercial, and delivering industry-defining digital products including Scan & Go and Sam’s Cash. 40 Under 40 honoree, speaker, and published thought leader shaping the future of retail media and marketing technology.

Overview

13
13
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior Director, Strategy, Insights, Measurement, Partnerships & Customer Science

WALGREENS
Greater Chicago Area
07.2024 - Current
  • Mentor senior leaders and create succession pathways, embedding a culture of accountability, innovation, and data-driven decision-making across a 50+ person organization with 9 direct reports.
  • Direct and collaborate across cross-functional teams including product management, customer science, supplier insights, digital partnerships, business development, media operations, and business operations to execute a unified retail media growth strategy.
  • Develop and institutionalize measurement frameworks that enhance accountability, optimize performance, and inform long-term investment decisions.
  • Advance customer science initiatives that strengthen targeting, improve shopper insights, and maximize campaign effectiveness for brand partners.
  • Revolutionized Walgreens’ speed-to-market capabilities by onboarding LiveRamp and elevating Circana to an industry-standard platform, enabling more efficient use of data both internally across teams and externally with clients.
  • Delivered double-digit retail media program growth and positive comp performance despite a negative overall retail comp, proving resilience and impact in a challenging market environment.
  • Build and manage strategic supplier and media partnerships that unlock incremental revenue and value for both brands and Walgreens.
  • Shape enterprise transformation by aligning retail media initiatives with Walgreens’ broader pharmacy, health, and front-of-store strategies to drive sustainable enterprise growth.
  • Influence executive decision-making by partnering with C-suite leaders to integrate retail media into Walgreens’ customer engagement and long-term revenue agenda.
  • Represent Walgreens externally at industry forums and partner councils, helping to shape retail media measurement standards and positioning Walgreens as an industry leader.

Co-Founder

OPTIMIZEONE INC.
Charlotte
01.2024 - 07.2024
  • Co-founded a marketing consultancy specializing in bridging startup agility with enterprise retail partnerships, delivering measurable growth strategies and sustainable demand generation solutions.
  • Guided emerging brands and technology providers in navigating B2B business development with major retailers, helping them integrate solutions that unlocked mutual value.
  • Designed and implemented integrated marketing frameworks that improved client speed-to-market and ROI across retail media, product launches, and customer acquisition.
  • Provided strategic advisory on marketing technology adoption — enabling retail partners and brands to align on scalable data, insights, and partnership models.
  • Established OptimizeOne as a trusted advisor to active clients, leaving the business with a foundation for continued success and ongoing engagements after stepping away from daily operations.
  • Recognized as a thought leader in accelerating the convergence of startups, retail media networks, and brand partners.

Director, Advertising Technology & Operations, Media Planning & Business Operations

LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC.
Charlotte
06.2022 - 01.2024
  • Scaled Lowe’s “One Roof” Retail Media Network from inception to a high-growth, enterprise-level business unit, stabilizing core operations while unlocking new revenue opportunities.
  • Built and led a team of 16 professionals (growing from 2) across advertising operations, campaign strategy, media planning, and business operations — establishing clear objectives, accountability frameworks, and scalable processes.
  • Designed and launched Lowe’s first performance marketing structure, driving a 300% revenue increase in 18 months and positioning the network as a key driver of enterprise growth.
  • Optimized ad investment strategy, reducing costs by more than 20% while sustaining operational excellence and improving return on ad spend.
  • Tripled Scotts Miracle-Gro media investment and improved Whirlpool outcomes by 17% through strategic partnerships and data-driven optimizations.
  • Championed cross-functional collaboration with eCommerce, product, UX, and engineering teams, integrating advertising technology and measurement capabilities into broader customer and digital strategies.
  • Spearheaded data unification and advanced measurement practices that enabled targeted advertising, strengthened negotiations with partners, and enhanced reporting accuracy for both internal leadership and external brand clients.
  • Recognized by senior leadership and key brand partners as having built a best-in-class media operations team, setting a foundation for future innovation and sustained enterprise revenue growth.

Associate Director, Go-to-Market Strategy & Ops

Sam’s Club (Division of Walmart Inc.)
Multiple Locations
01.2020 - 01.2022
  • Promoted to lead enterprise go-to-market strategy and commercialization for Sam’s Club digital services and retail media offerings, managing $40M+ budgets and directing a cross-functional team of six.
  • Partnered with national creative agencies to elevate brand presence, delivering Sam’s Club’s first-ever Super Bowl commercial and positioning the company as a modern, digitally savvy retailer.
  • Championed the go-to-market positioning of industry-leading technology products including Scan & Go, Club Pickup, Delivery from Club, and Sam’s Cash Member Rewards, driving adoption and competitive differentiation.
  • Delivered double-digit revenue growth and member engagement gains, contributing to Walmart’s $11B+ eCommerce business while strengthening Sam’s Club’s role as a digital innovator.
  • Recognized by senior leadership for advancing Sam’s Club’s retail media, loyalty, and technology commercialization, creating scalable frameworks that influenced future enterprise strategies.

Senior Product Marketing Manager, Marketing Tech

Sam’s Club (Division of Walmart Inc.)
Multiple Locations
01.2017 - 01.2020
  • Promoted to lead marketing technology adoption and mobile application growth strategy across Sam’s Club’s digital portfolio.
  • Scaled first-time app users by 2.5M+, positioning Sam’s Club among the top five shopping apps nationally for three consecutive years.
  • Owned the branding, launch, and go-to-market strategy for Sam’s Club Now, an award-winning innovation app.
  • Implemented and operationalized a customer data platform (CDP), global DMP, and structured QA process, enabling enterprise-wide digital marketing efficiency.

Product Manager, Advertising & Marketing Technology

Walmart Labs (Division of Walmart Inc.)
San Francisco
01.2015 - 01.2017
  • Promoted to manage the roadmap, development, and delivery of advertising and marketing technology products for Walmart Labs, supporting the company’s digital transformation initiatives.
  • Directed cross-functional engineering, product, and marketing teams to launch a proprietary mobile platform in 600 stores, generating $100M+ in incremental sales.
  • Owned the affiliate marketing product strategy, modernizing tools and capabilities to deliver $100M in additional revenue through improved testing, targeting, and UX.
  • Defined requirements, prioritized features, and aligned product investments with enterprise growth objectives.

Project Manager, eCommerce Media Sales

Walmart Labs (Division of Walmart Inc.)
San Francisco
01.2014 - 01.2015
  • Spearheaded Walmart Labs’ eCommerce site monetization strategy, generating $25M in first-year profitability.
  • Partnered with product, engineering, and brand marketing teams to create scalable digital advertising solutions.

Assistant Manager

Walmart Stores (Division of Walmart Inc.)
Multiple Locations
01.2013 - 01.2014
  • Managed frontline operations and staff, building a foundation in leadership, financials, and execution.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration – Marketing

Missouri Southern State University (MSSU)
Joplin, MO

Skills

  • Retail media strategy and partnerships
  • Customer insights and analytics
  • Go-to-market execution
  • Growth and transformation leadership
  • Marketing technology expertise
  • Business development and monetization
  • Team building and global leadership

Websites

Timeline

Senior Director, Strategy, Insights, Measurement, Partnerships & Customer Science

WALGREENS
07.2024 - Current

Co-Founder

OPTIMIZEONE INC.
01.2024 - 07.2024

Director, Advertising Technology & Operations, Media Planning & Business Operations

LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC.
06.2022 - 01.2024

Associate Director, Go-to-Market Strategy & Ops

Sam’s Club (Division of Walmart Inc.)
01.2020 - 01.2022

Senior Product Marketing Manager, Marketing Tech

Sam’s Club (Division of Walmart Inc.)
01.2017 - 01.2020

Product Manager, Advertising & Marketing Technology

Walmart Labs (Division of Walmart Inc.)
01.2015 - 01.2017

Project Manager, eCommerce Media Sales

Walmart Labs (Division of Walmart Inc.)
01.2014 - 01.2015

Assistant Manager

Walmart Stores (Division of Walmart Inc.)
01.2013 - 01.2014

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration – Marketing

Missouri Southern State University (MSSU)

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Drew Frost