CEO Today Healthcare Awards

www.ceotodaymagazine.com CEO Today Healthcare Awards 2019 27 USA Leading Pharma CEO Focuses on Quality and Growth in First Year Douglas Boothe is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Akorn, Inc., a leading specialty pharmaceutical company founded in 1971 and headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois.Akorn develops, manufactures, andmarkets generic and branded prescription pharmaceuticals, along with animal and consumer health products. The Company specializes in difficult-to-manufacture pharmaceuticals, with a global footprint consisting of five facilities and approximately 2,200 employees worldwide. Doug assumed his position as CEO in January 2019. From day one, he set out to revitalize Akorn by strengthening its operations, improving efficiencies and focusing on Akorn’s competencies, like its diverse commercial product portfolio and pipeline in attractive niche markets. As Doug and the Company implement and execute strategic objectives focused on guiding Akorn to profitable growth, he has ensured that the long-term plan for growth is anchored by a culture of compliance driven by a commitment to providing Akorn patients with affordable and high-quality products, all supported by the capabilities and dedication of a global team. ABOUT DOUG BOOTHE An engineer by education and training, Doug has over 22 years of experience and leadership in the pharmaceuticals industry. Prior to joining Akorn, Doug most recently served as president of the generics division of publicly held Impax Laboratories, which developed, manufactured and marketed bioequivalent pharmaceuticals and was acquired by Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC. Prior to Impax Laboratories, Doug was the executive vice president and general manager of Perrigo Company Plc, with responsibility for the U.S. pharmaceuticals business, which included generics and specialty pharmaceutical products. He also served as the CEO of Actavis Inc., the U.S. manufacturing and marketing division of Actavis Group, and held senior positions at Alpharma and Pharmacia Corp. Following his time at Impax Laboratories, he served as principal consultant for his own consulting company, Channel Advantage Consulting LLC. When Doug took over as Akorn’s CEO, he wanted to develop a deep understanding of the Company, along with the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. He spent time with Akorn associates and leadership, met with partners and customers, and familiarized himself with the culture and existing processes. Doug evaluated all aspects of the business to see where they could deliver better performance and improve customer service, hiring new leaders to reinforce critical areas like operations, quality, and IT. From there, Doug worked with his leadership team to identify core challenges and develop a clear strategic plan to solidify and grow Akorn’s position of strength in the industry. Doug’s decisiveness and determination have enabled him to make tough decisions, earning the respect of his team. And he brings the same commitment to his demonstrated management style by working tirelessly to foster talent and motivate Akorn associates. Looking Ahead: Progress for Akorn Under Doug’s leadership, significant progress has been madeacrosstheorganizationtoenhanceoperations,quality and compliance, positively resulting in the resumption of full operations, improvement in product availability, and consistent demand across Akorn’s diversified lines of business. The Company has an experienced leadership team that is committed to revitalizing Akorn with a focus on initiatives that will provide a path to long-term, profitable growth. While Doug’s extensive experience in the pharma industry prepared him for his role as CEO, those who work with him agree that it is Doug’s passion and grit that have enabled his early success with Akorn – qualities that are sure to benefit both him and Akorn going forward. DOUG BOOTHE CEO of Akorn “Doug’s decisiveness and determination have enabled him to make tough decisions, earning the respect of his team.“