Philippe Duval

Philippe Duval has been named president and chief executive officer of Uniprix Group, taking the reins from longtime CEO François Castonguay.

Duval is set to assume the post in early February.

Castonguay had announced in late August that he would be stepping down from the Quebec drug chain in early 2015 after 20 years as head of the company.

MONTREAL — Philippe Duval has been named president and chief executive officer of Uniprix Group, taking the reins from longtime CEO François Castonguay.

Philippe Duval

Uniprix said Friday that Duval will assume the president and CEO post on Feb. 2. Castonguay had announced in late August that he would be stepping down from the Quebec drug chain effective Jan. 31, 2015, due to health reasons.

Before joining the Uniprix Group, Duval was general manager of the Society for the Celebration of Montreal’s 375th Anniversary (which is in 2017) and, from 2008 to 2013, president of the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ), a government-owned corporation  responsible for the sale of alcoholic beverages in Quebec.

"Mr. Duval has impressive expertise in retail and management, which is very important for our 375 affiliated pharmacies that operate in a highly competitive environment, heavily influenced by informed and demanding consumers," Uniprix chairman Normand Bonin said in a statement.

Uniprix operates under a franchise model and its retail network encompasses 387 drug stores across Quebec under the banners Uniprix, Uniprix Clinique and Uniprix Santé.

"I am a field manager, and I am convinced that success, best practices and great ideas stem from having senior managers on the ground," Duval stated.

Castonguay has been the head of Uniprix for 20 years. In announcing his departure in August, Uniprix said he would remain as a special consultant to his replacement. Duval is the third president and CEO of the 37-year-old company.