McKesson names new EVP, CFO

SAN FRANCISCO — McKesson on Monday announced James Beer will join the company as EVP and CFO on Oct. 9. Beer will be responsible for overseeing all financial functions for McKesson and replaces Jeff Campbell, who left the company in June 2013 to become CFO of American Express Co. Beer will also join McKesson’s executive committee. 

“James Beer is exceptionally qualified to lead our finance organization as chief financial officer,” stated John Hammergren, chairman and CEO McKesson Corporation. “His extensive experience as the CFO for leading publicly traded companies across several industries provides him with the ideal background and perspective to help guide McKesson’s continued success.”

Beer comes to McKesson from Symantec Corporation, where he served as EVP and CFO managing the worldwide finance organization with responsibility for accounting, financial planning and analysis, treasury, tax, investor relations, corporate development, purchasing and audit. Prior to Symantec, Beer was CFO of AMR Corporation and American Airlines, AMR’s principal subsidiary. In his 15 years at American Airlines, Beer held a variety of management positions in finance and operations, including leading the airline’s European and Asia Pacific businesses.

“McKesson is strongly positioned to take advantage of tremendous growth opportunities in healthcare as the industry transforms through health reform,” Beer said. “I look forward to working with the company’s experienced leadership team to deliver on that potential and build upon the exceptional performance of the past decade.”

Beer holds a bachelor degree in aeronautical engineering from Imperial College, London University and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School.