Drugstore operator Rite Aid Corp. on Tuesday named executive Bryan Shirtliff as senior vice president for business development, a newly created post.

The company is planning to implement a strategy called segmentation, which groups stores together based on their locations or the amount of business they do. Rite Aid said Shirtliff will be responsible for developing business plans for different segments.

Possible segments for Rite Aid could include urban and suburban stores, and high and low volume stores.

Shirtliff, 49, had been the company's senior vice president for category management.

Rite Aid said it is hiring Tony Montini to the category management position. He will start at Rite Aid in mid-February. The company said Montini, 57, is the chief operating officer of Marc USA, which had handled Rite Aid's advertising since 1997.

In afternoon trading, Rite Aid shares slipped 3 cents to $1.51.