QS/1 names new president with wealth of industry experience

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — QS/1 has found its new president. QS/1 parent company J M Smith has named Saul Factor to the position, effective July 1, following an international search to replace Tammy Devine, who is retiring after 35 years with the company.

“Saul brings such a unique set of skills to QS/1,” Devine said. “As an active member of the selection committee, and as someone who is committed to the future of this organization, I am excited that his training as a pharmacist, and his vast experience as a business leader, will give him a true understanding of all our customers, and an ability to relate to their challenges as QS/1 moves forward.”

Factor was most recently EVP corporate strategy at Accord Healthcare, which he joined after roughly 10 years with McKesson. Factor joined McKesson in 2006 as SVP global generics, where one of his first projects was leading a technology transformation. He also worked to create a customer segmentation program to improve customer satisfaction while also building up the internal team. He was named McKesson’s president global sourcing and procurement in 2010.

“One of the first things that struck me about Saul was his commitment to customers, shareholders and employees,” J M Smith chairman and CEO Alan Turfe said “Saul has a track record of success — he has built teams that have deployed both operational and commercial excellence programs focused on delivering a better customer experience while driving incremental shareholder value. Saul is also clearly committed to the success of his team through talent development and growth, which is an important cultural fit for us.”

Factor also brings to the position the perspective of a community pharmacist, having spent the first 10 years of his career as a retail and long-term care pharmacist before working in sales and brand management with PCS and Eli Lilly. From there, he moved to RxAmerica, where he developed a customer experience improvement strategy as COO.

“Our industry is rapidly transforming, and it is important to provide customers with what they need now while also working to address their future needs,” Factor said. “I have known QS/1 for a long time, and I am excited to join a team that is poised to grow from being a premier vendor in the industry to becoming the premier pharmacy partner ready to meet the demands of the future.”

QS/1 said that Factor’s career focus on customer experience, coupled with his breadth of experience in the industry — from generics sourcing to manufacturing and distribution — is part of what made him a fit for the position.

“I believe the customer is at the center of everything we do, and that listening to them and then tailoring a solution for their success, ultimately leads to our success. At the same time, I believe that employees are also customers and that we should all expect transparency and a drive to succeed from each other.”

Turfe also thanked Devine for her years with the company.

“Tammy Devine has been an integral part of QS/1 since she was hired as a programmer 35 years ago by Mr. Jim Smith, son of our founder,” Turfe said. “She built upon Smith’s legacy and vision by creating a culture focused on customers, community, supplier partners and employees. That foundation, and Saul’s background in customer-focused growth mean that this is an incredibly exciting time for QS/1 and the J M Smith Corp.”