[國際新聞] London Drugs CEO Wynne Powell computer, executive, companies, leadership, company

tiffiant

London Drugs CEO Wynne Powell goes out on top

Retiring executive’s ‘visionary leadership’ helped build a retail powerhouse
When Wynne Powell retires as London Drugs’ chief executive officer next month, he’ll spend a lot of time travelling the world with his wife, Glenys.
But he won’t carry a briefcase full of money, like he did 30 years ago when he was a rising company executive intent on impressing skeptical computer companies in California’s Silicon Valley.
Back in 1983, Powell convinced London Drugs chairman Tong Louie the drugstore chain should sell computers.
The market was dominated by low-end computers and game consoles and Powell felt London Drugs could go after a different niche — customers with family businesses that needed computerization.
So off he went to California to convince computer firms to let London Drugs sell their products.
He was basically laughed out of the state as soon as the companies heard he represented a drugstore. After all, what could a Canadian drugstore possibly know about selling computers?
But Powell never gave up, and when he returned to Silicon Valley for a second trip, he packed a briefcase filled with about $10,000 in cash.
“When they started laughing, I’d open up the briefcase and show them the money and say: ‘Look, this is about us both making money,’ ” he said in an interview Wednesday. “I had to show them we were serious. We weren’t American but we had money and we wanted to spend it and grow with them. We had a lot of fun.”
The tactic clearly worked because London Drugs’ computer business flourished and the chain became Microsoft’s first direct retail account in Canada in the mid-1980s.
“I can still pick up the phone or email (Microsoft CEO) Steve Ballmer and he responds very quickly because he remembers those days,” said Powell, who turns 67 next month and will leave London Drugs on Feb. 23.
He will remain president and CEO of associated Louie family companies London Air Services and London Enterprises, which operates Sonora Resort in Desolation Sound.
Powell will be replaced by London Drugs chief operating officer Clint Mahlman, 48, who will assume the title of executive vice-president.
Powell, a keen photographer, was part owner of Kerrisdale Cameras, Lens & Shutter and Island Colour Labs before he was recruited by London Drugs in 1982 to improve the chain’s photo departments.
He became chief operating officer of London Drugs in 1995 before becoming president in 1998 and chief executive officer in 2009.
London Drugs operated 18 stores when Powell joined the company 32 years ago. It now runs 78 stores throughout Western Canada, employs about 7,500 people and generates an estimated $2-billion-plus in annual revenue.
Vancouver retail consultant David Ian Gray attributes much of that growth to Powell.
“He’s one of the best, for sure, because London Drugs can go toe-to-toe with any major retailer and that was all Wynne,” said Gray, president of DIG360 Consulting.
“For a regional player to stand up against all the onslaughts over the years — from Walmart, Best Buy and others — and continue to excel is just amazing, amazing stuff.”
He said Powell is an entrepreneurial retail leader who is “refreshingly without ego,” even though London Drugs became one of the most trusted retail brands in Canada under his leadership.

pkphilip

The article didn't mention London Drugs is not a publicly traded company like other competitors (who most are still struggling financially) for so many years and it will still be run as the Louie family business.

London Drugs is also just one of the many businesses the Louie family owns.

Philip

tiffiant

Wynne Powell will remain president and CEO of Louie family business London Air Services after he retires next month from London Drugs. The retail chain had just 18 stores when he joined it 32 years ago.