Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Canada’s community pharmacies and pharmacists have been on the frontline of care. Despite unprecedented uncertainty, pharmacists continue to provide access to health, wellness, and home essentials.
Join Canadian Club on February 3 as we welcome Jeff Leger, President, Shoppers Drug Mart for a candid discussion on how pharmacies have stayed focused on patient care, prescription therapies, and new digital services, all while embracing urgent challenges like COVID-19 testing.
In conversation with David Simmonds, Jeff will share Shoppers’ vision for the future of health care in pharmacy, including how Canadian pharmacists can support a comprehensive rollout of emerging COVID19 vaccines.
Jeff Leger
President, Shoppers Drug Mart
Jeff Leger was appointed President of Shoppers Drug Mart in January 2018. Prior to that, he held the position of Executive Vice President, Pharmacy and Healthcare, since December 2015.
Jeff is a licensed pharmacist and has worked in the hospital and generic pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors prior to joining Shoppers Drug Mart in 2008 as Director, Category Management. Since joining Shoppers Drug Mart Jeff has held roles of increasing responsibility including Vice President, Pharmacy Procurement; SVP, Pharmaceutical Partnerships and MediSystem Pharmacy and SVP, Loblaw Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Partnerships.
During his tenure, Jeff made significant contributions to both SDM and Loblaw on the Pharmacy front, in addition to leading the organization’s vision of becoming Canada’s leader in consumer Health and Wellness.
As an active contributor to industry associations, Jeff also held the position of Chair, Neighbourhood Pharmacies Board of Directors.
He was recently recognized as Chain Drug Review’s 2019 Retailer of the Year!
Jeff holds a BSc. Pharm. from Dalhousie University and M.B.A. from Université de Moncton.
David Simmonds
2020 Visiting Fellow, School of Advanced Studies, Western University
David Simmonds is currently a 2020 Visiting Fellow at Western University’s School of Advanced Studies, and a Senior Adviser at the Canadian Centre for the Purpose of the Corporation. His teaching focuses on advanced communications, brand, and policy practices as they relate to public persuasion, social storytelling, ethics, power and privilege. Most recently, David was Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs for McKesson Canada. A member of the company’s executive leadership team, David was responsible for internal communications, external affairs, media relations, government relations, corporate and event marketing, corporate social responsibility and strategic partnerships for McKesson’s business units in Canada.
Prior to leading Communications and Public Affairs, David served as Global Vice President Enterprise Strategy and Chief of Staff to McKesson Corporation’s Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer. In this role he led a team responsible for designing the company’s multi-year growth strategy across Canadian, U.S., and European operations. David possesses deep experience with reputation, brand strategy, financial communications and corporate affairs across regulatory environments with advisory experience to senior leaders in a variety of sectors.
David is Past President of Alumni Western – Western University’s global alumni network; a member of Western University’s Board of Governors; Director and President Elect of Canadian Club Toronto; and, an Advisory Board Member of Catalyst Canada. He is also a member of the Canadian Centre for the Purpose of the Corporation’s expert panel. His earlier board work includes six years with Casey House, Canada’s leading HIV Specialty Hospital and the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.
A graduate of Western University, David holds an Honours BA, MA, and completed the executive development program at the Wharton School.
A sought-after speaker his commentary can be found in national media including the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and CBC News. In 2015 the Diversity Advancement Network named David one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Canadians.
