TORONTO — After a seven-month search, Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. has appointed Domenic Pilla as president and chief executive officer.

Canada’s largest drug store chain said late Monday that Pilla, who most recently was president of McKesson Canada, will take the helm as CEO on Nov. 1. He also will serve as a director on the company’s board.

Domenic Pilla

Pilla fills the vacancy created with the sudden resignation of Jürgen Schreiber in mid-February. Nonexecutive chairman David Williams had served as interim CEO while the retailer searched for a full-time chief executive.

“I am delighted to join Shoppers Drug Mart at this time of challenge and reform in health care and community pharmacy,” Pilla said in a statement. “A time of change is also a window of opportunity for the company to continue to lead the industry in providing innovative patient services, while driving organizational efficiencies and continued growth in the retail sector.”

According to Shoppers Drug Mart, Pilla brings nearly 30 years of leadership experience in the health care and retailing sectors, with his background spanning such areas as community pharmacy, pharmaceutical distribution and sales management, specialty health networks, chronic disease management and adherence, and health information technology.

He served as president of McKesson Canada since December 2006 after joining the company in 2001 as executive vice president. In that role, he was responsible for all marketplace operations, sales and marketing functions as well as for corporate procurement for Canada.

Before McKesson, Pilla was president of Canadian operations for RNG Group. And prior to that, he had an 18-year career at Petro-Canada, where he held the position of vice president for the Central Region and, Shoppers Drug Mart noted, was responsible for sales and distribution at a time when that company was diversifying into food and associated retail services.

“We are delighted that Domenic is joining us. His valuable experience in delivering health care services and solutions to a broad range of health care providers, ranging from pharmacies to hospitals, as well as governments and patients, makes him an excellent choice to lead the next phase of growth in all our businesses,” stated Holger Kluge, chairman of Shoppers Drug Mart. “He brings a strong vision, experienced leadership, passion and energy to work with our associate owners and employees in delivering continued best-in-class experiences for all our customers.”

Shoppers Drug Mart said Williams will work closely with Pilla to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

“On behalf of the company’s associate owners, employees and the board, I would like to take this opportunity to thank board member and interim president and CEO Dave Williams for his excellent leadership over the past few months,” Kluge added.

Overall, Shoppers Drug Mart has more than 1,190 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix drug stores as well as 59 Shoppers Simply Pharmacy (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé in Quebec) medical clinic pharmacies, eight Murale luxury beauty stores and 63 Shoppers Home Health Care stores.

In addition to its retail store network, the company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services, and MediSystem Technologies Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities in Ontario and Alberta.