Helena Foulkes
Helena Foulkes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Helena Grace Buonanno 1963 or 1964[1] |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Occupation(s) | Chief Executive Officer, Hudson's Bay Company Former Senior Vice President - Retail Operations, CVS Health |
Helena Foulkes is the current Chief Executive Officer of Hudson's Bay Company.
Early life and education
The daughter of a lawyer, Helena Buonanno was born the eldest of five children. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University, graduating magna cum laude; there she met her husband,[1] marrying him in 1989 in a Roman Catholic ceremony.[2] Larry Summers was her senior thesis adviser. She later earned her Master of Business Administration from the same institution.[1]
Career
After graduating from Harvard, Foulkes briefly worked at Goldman Sachs and Tiffany & Co before leaving to earn her MBA. She began working at CVS in 1992.[1] She rose up to become the company's executive vice president and chief marketing officer. She oversaw the launch of the ExtraCare card, a membership program offering savings to participants.[3] Foulkes also created the Pharmacy Advisor program, its purpose being to offer advice to customers with chronic conditions, either in stores or over the phone.[1]
In 2011, CVS made Foulkes its chief health care strategy and marketing officer, a new position created for her.[3] In July 2015, Fortune magazine reported that as part of her role, Foulkes oversaw 9,600 retail stores and 18 distribution centers.[4] She helped spur the decision to stop selling cigarettes and tobacco products, citing the need for CVS to better position itself as a healthcare company.[1][5] She oversaw the company's philanthropic endeavors, and developed digital strategies to help consumers learn how to fulfill their pharmaceutical needs.[3]
In 2015, Fortune magazine included her on its list of Most Powerful Women, citing Foulkes' role in the "$1.9 billion purchase of Target's prescription-filling business—a deal that will give CVS the most pharmacy locations in the U.S.—and launching upgraded beauty and healthy food sections in many of the stores".[6]
On February 5, 2018, Hudson's Bay Co., owner of Saks Fifth Avenue, named Foulkes as its new CEO, saying it would be effective on February 19.[7][8][9] In her first six weeks as CEO, Foulkes was challenged with refashioning the company's business strategies given the industry's declining sales at the time.[10]
In March 2020, Hudson's Bay Co.'s CEO Foulkes announced that she is leaving the company following the deal to reached with shareholders to go private.[11][12]
Personal life
Foulkes has four children, and runs marathons. In 2009 her mother died from lung cancer.[1] She is a granddaughter of Thomas J. Dodd and a niece of Chris Dodd, both former US senators from Connecticut.[1][2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Wahba, Phil (September 11, 2015). "The change agent inside CVS". Fortune. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
- ^ a b "Helena Buonanno Weds W. G. Foulkes". The New York Times. July 23, 1989. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ a b c Steinberg, Stephanie (July 16, 2013). "Around the Water Cooler With CVS Caremark's Helena Foulkes". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
- ^ Rao, Leena (July 14, 2015). "CVS Health chief: Consumers care more about wallet than health". Fortune. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
- ^ Kennedy, Kelly (February 5, 2014). "CVS Caremark to stop selling tobacco products". USA Today. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ "Helena Foulkes, 51". Fortune. 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ "Saks Owner Hudson's Bay Appoints CVS Executive Helena Foulkes as CEO". Bloomberg.com. 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
- ^ "CVS Health exec named CEO of department store giant". Chain Store Age. Chain Store Age. 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
- ^ "Hudson's Bay Poaches Helena Foulkes From CVS". Fortune. Fortune. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
- ^ Shaw, Hollie. "New Hudson's Bay CEO Helena Foulkes says 'no sacred cows' as retailer seeks elusive turnaround". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
- ^ Kapner, Suzanne (2020-03-03). "WSJ News Exclusive | CEO of Saks Parent to Step Down". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
- ^ Thomas, Lauren (2020-03-03). "Hudson's Bay CEO Helena Foulkes on the way out as retailer prepares to go private". CNBC. Retrieved 2020-03-05.