Smith Drug names former Walgreens exec to industry relations post

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Smith Drug this week added a new member to its industry relations team with extensive industry experience. The company named Matthew Pike, most recently Walgreens director of generic pharmaceutical purchasing, to the newly created position of associate VP strategy, industry relations

“To have someone of Matt’s caliber on our team is a tremendous asset,” Smith Drug president Jeff Foreman said. “Matt brings a great deal of experience and knowledge of the industry. Our team has tremendous depth and expertise already, but Matt’s arrival strengthens it even more. Smith Drug is poised for success against the challenges that lie ahead, and our customers will benefit from this.”

In the new role, Pike will work to develop and implement strategy aimed at maximizing the company’s efficiencies and market share, Smith Drug said. At Walgreens, he negotiated pricing and terms for more than $8 billion in spending annually. He also was a liaison to the Walgreens Boots Alliance Development in Switzerland.

Pike got his start at Eli Lilly as a sales representative, eventually joining its government affairs team and becoming its global product manager overseeing the development of strategy, messaging and market techniques for its products. From Lilly, he moved to Wolters Kluwer as a director of drug file products and Medicine Shoppe International in various roles.

“The opportunity to join this team is incredible,” Pike said. “The bench strength already in place is noteworthy throughout the industry, and I am looking forward to the great things we will all accomplish together as we continue to differentiate Smith Drug Company in the marketplace.”