Canadian drug store group tabs Justin Bates as interim CEO

TORONTO — Denise Carpenter, president and chief executive officer of the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada, has left the organization.

Denise Carpenter

Neighbourhood Pharmacies said late Tuesday that Justin Bates, vice president of pharmacy affairs, will become senior vice president of pharmacy and CEO of the association on an interim basis.

A search to recruit a permanent CEO “will begin shortly,” according to Neighbourhood Pharmacies board chairman Vivek Sood, general manager of Sobeys National Pharmacy Group.

Carpenter joined the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS), Neighbourhood Pharmacies’ predecessor organization, as president and CEO at the start of 2013. She took the reins from interim chief executive Ian McKinnon, who had assumed that role upon the resignation of president and CEO Nadine Saby. Previously, Carpenter was president and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA).

CACDS changed its name to the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada in September 2014. Carpenter remained as president and CEO of the newly named organization.

“Denise Carpenter has left the association,” Sood said in a statement. “On behalf of the board and Neighbourhood Pharmacies members, we thank Denise for her many contributions to the association and wish her the best of luck in all her future endeavors.”

Bates has served as vice president of pharmacy affairs at Neighbourhood Pharmacies since November 2012 and has been with the organization since March 2006, when he came to CACDS as director of e-health.

Justin Bates

Sood noted that the Neighbourhood Pharmacies team will now report to Bates in his capacity as interim CEO.

“This important appointment acknowledges Justin’s expertise, his reputation among stakeholders and his commitment to support and promote the business of pharmacy in Canada,” Sood stated. “In leading a refocused and re-energized association, we are committed to connect with our members and corporate partners in the upcoming weeks to gather their views on proper alignment and services across the country, and to ensure that our members remain the association’s top priority.”

Neighbourhood Pharmacies represents the operators of Canada’s roughly 6,500 chain, banner and franchise community pharmacies, as well as supermarket retailers and mass merchandisers with pharmacies.

Besides Sood, the association’s board includes Genevieve Fortier, senior vice president of human resources and public affairs for McKesson Canada; Eric Muir, senior vice president of health and wellness at Walmart Canada; John Tse, vice president of pharmacy and cosmetics at London Drugs; Rita Winn, general manager and chief operating officer of Lovell Drugs; Carmen Churcott, CEO of Pharmasave Drugs National; and Lyman Kwok, vice president of pharmacy operations for Metro Ontario.