FLINT, Mich. — Diplomat Pharmacy recently announced the appointment of Joel Saban as the new company president.

Paul Urick has decided to pursue other interests and will serve as president emeritus during a planned 90-day transition period.

Joel Saban

“During his tenure, Paul has served us in multiple leadership roles since he joined Diplomat with the acquisition of Burman’s Specialty Pharmacy in June 2015 and has provided decisive, strategic leadership that continues to benefit our patients and our partners,” said chairman and chief executive officer Phil Hagerman. “We want to thank Paul for his significant contribution and commitment to the company.

“In light of this transition we had an opportunity to select an individual who would strengthen our position. Joel’s leadership credentials and strategic thinking make him the right person to help execute Diplomat’s road map and drive sustainable growth. He comes to Diplomat with a proven track record across the entire value chain of our business.”

Saban had served as executive vice president of pharmacy operations at Catamaran Corp. from June 2010 until January 2016, overseeing a staff of about 3,200 employees in Catamaran’s retail, mail and specialty operations, as well as cost-of-goods contracting and vendor relations. Prior to that, he was the senior vice president of industry relations at CVS Caremark from 1997 until 2010, where he was responsible for directing brand pharmaceutical industry relations, including contract negotiations.

“After following Diplomat’s success for several years, I am honored to join their team,” said Saban. “Diplomat continues to transform in this rapidly evolving industry, and I am committed to their strategies, continued growth, and emphasis on services for patients and partners.”

“I look forward to partnering with Joel and our talented senior leadership team to accelerate our strategic plan,” Hagerman concluded. “We remain focused on driving profitable growth with a continued emphasis on quality and innovation to deliver strong shareholder returns over the long term.”