Upsher-Smith’s McBride given HDA Research Foundation’s Nexus award
PHOENIX — The Healthcare Distribution Alliance’s nonprofit HAD Research Foundation has awarded Upsher-Smith Laboratories’ VP partner relations Mike McBride its 2017 Nexus Award for Lifetime Achievement.
The award — which was given by the foundation, alongside Genentech and Mylan at the HDA’s annual Business and Leadership Conference — recognizes character and professional accomplishments, as well as leadership in HDA, the industry and the community.
“For more than 60 years, the Nexus has recognized extraordinary supply chain leaders,” HDA president and CEO and HDA Research Foundation president John Gray said. “HDA and the HDA Research Foundation are pleased to continue the proud legacy of the Nexus Award by recognizing Mike McBride — a consummate team player and champion for trade relations — with the distribution industry’s highest honor.”
McBride began his career at Upsher Smith in 1988 as a consumer sales associate and rose through the company to lead its national account team. He helped grow the company’s product lines as it added branded pharmaceuticals to its generics portfolio, and he played a key role in establishing its consumer products, managed markets and institutional sales teams.
In 2005 he began his work in an industry relations role, helping build Upsher-Smith’s trading partner relationships. In his current role, McBride works to establish and grow relationships with chain, wholesale and other partners to support product developments. He also helped facilitate Upsher-Smith’s divestiture of its AmLactin brand to Sandoz in late 2016.
“For almost 30 years, Mike’s leadership — driven by his ability to connect with colleagues and collaborators, and tireless dedication to advancing industry excellence — has not only benefited Upsher-Smith, but the entire supply chain,” Upsher-Smith president Rusty Field said. “All of us at Upsher-Smith are lucky to work with Mike every day, and thrilled that HDA has recognized his unique vision and talents by presenting him with the 2017 Nexus Award.”
McBride has been involved with HDA and other pharmaceutical supply chain organizations for more than 10 years and has been a member of its industry relations council, as well as its manufacturers’ government affairs advisory committee, among other working groups. Because of his work, Upsher-Smith has been recognized multiple times with HDA's DIANA awards, and it was named HDA’s Manufacturer Partner of the Year in 2014.
“Over the past decade that I have had the pleasure of working with him, Mike has shown great passion for his industry, at many times serving as a sounding board for his fellow trading partners,” HDA EVP industry relations, membership and education Perry Fri said. “Quite simply, he is an exceptional person and the embodiment of what the Nexus represents for the pharmaceutical supply chain.