GSI Commerce Inc. announced the appointment of Robert Wuesthoff to the position of executive vice president of global operations. Wuesthoff will head the company's fulfillment, customer care, and business operations, and will report to Robert Blyskal, the company's president and chief operating officer.
Wuesthoff has 23 years of experience managing call centers, mail service fulfillment operations, distribution centers, and manufacturing operations for companies in the healthcare and consumer products industries. Prior to joining GSI Commerce, Wuesthoff served as the senior vice president of customer operations for Medco Health Solutions since 1999. In this capacity, he was charged with overseeing the customer service, fulfillment and claims processing for the $35-billion, prescription drug benefit management company. Wuesthoff was responsible for approximately 3,500 Medco employees and the operations of six Medco-owned call centers, two outsourced call centers, which included domestic and off-shore operations, and two outsourced fulfillment and claims processing operations.
Earlier this year, and for the fifth consecutive year, the operational groups under Wuesthoff's leadership were instrumental in Medco receiving the prestigious Wilson Rx award for customer satisfaction within the prescription benefit management industry. Wuesthoff also successfully implemented a work-at-home program for Medco customer service representatives and provided Six Sigma quality process leadership for the company.
Wuesthoff led safety improvements at Medco that reduced workers' compensation expenses and also implemented other productivity initiatives that have saved the company more than $175 million since 2002. While at Medco, Wuesthoff also served as a company regional vice president of mail service operations where he was responsible for managing six mail services pharmacies, which fulfilled a half-million drug prescriptions per week. During his tenure at Medco, he also served as a vice president and general manager for the Columbus, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pa. pharmacies and as the vice president of operations for the pharmacy in Harrisburg, Pa. Prior to Medco, Wuesthoff worked for Johnson & Johnson Corporation from 1982 to 1991, where he managed business-to-business distribution centers in New Jersey, Illinois and California, 10 public warehouses and a business-to-business customer service unit. While at Johnson & Johnson, Wuesthoff also held positions as a director of operations, manufacturing manager, inventory planning coordinator and lead distribution supervisor. Wuesthoff earned a master's of business administration degree from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and holds a bachelor's degree in operations management from The Pennsylvania State University. Wuesthoff is married and has two children.
“Bob brings a wealth of operational experience to our company and is a welcome addition to our senior management team,” said Robert Blyskal, president and chief operating officer of GSI Commerce. “Bob created and managed quality-based programs at Medco and also increased operating efficiencies. Bob's operational expertise will help us manage the tremendous growth opportunity in front of us.”
“Operationally, as GSI Commerce continues its rapid growth, the company will need to maximize the effectiveness of its people, processes and technologies. My experience is rooted in efficiently managing growth while concurrently driving improvements in quality and services,” said Wuesthoff. “I look forward to contributing my experience and leadership to GSI Commerce's continuing story of growth and success.”
