The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that former Shoppers Drug Mart chief executive officer Jurgen Schreiber is taking over the top job at rival Rexall. The Globe's Marina Strauss writes that Mr. Schreiber will become CEO of the newly renamed Rexall Health in August. The appointment by parent company Katz Group of Edmonton comes as competition heats up in the drugstore segment after the takeover of Shoppers by Loblaw last year. At the same time, drugstores are feeling a pinch as provinces cut funding for generic medications. Mr. Schreiber faces not only Shoppers but an array of other large chains, including Loblaw and discounters Wal-Mart Canada and Costco Canada, that are all focusing more on health and drugstore items. They are catering to an aging, health-conscious population, raising the stakes for all the retail players. The tightening market has prompted industry observers to predict that Mr. Schreiber could eventually steer Rexall into being acquired by a bigger global company to give it more purchasing power with suppliers and other economies of scale. Mr. Schreiber had previously led A.S. Watson Group, a European chain of health and beauty stores.