H. D. Smith Selects IT Industry Executive David Guzman as CIO

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Aug. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- H. D. Smith, among the nation's largest pharmaceutical wholesalers, today announced the appointment of David Guzman as chief information officer. In this role at H. D. Smith, Guzman will be responsible for developing and implementing information technology initiatives to enhance the customer experience as well as to advance H. D. Smith's supply-chain and cost-management systems.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110822/NY55172 )

Guzman, an information technology (IT) veteran with nearly 30 years service at Fortune 500 companies in finance, retail, consumer-product and health-service industries, joins H. D. Smith from Axciom, one of the country's largest information-service providers.  There, he held the position of chief information and technology officer.

"Health information technology is critical to community healthcare and essential to any retail or institutional setting, providing the innovative tools that allow pharmacists to ensure a medicine is on hand and costs are closely watched," said Dale Smith, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, H. D. Smith.  "David has shown exceptional sensitivity to making technology work for customers and will help H. D. Smith apply inventive thinking to tools that improve competitive service to community pharmacies and health systems nationally."  

Guzman has previously served at the chief information officer-level at a number of technology, healthcare and retail giants including Acxiom, Owens & Minor and Office Depot.  Managing multi-million dollar information technology system budgets, improving service while reducing related expenses, he understands the nexus between economics and service.  At Owens & Minor, Guzman oversaw the development of revenue-generating platforms and services for hospital customers that helped the Company grow to an $8 billion dollar healthcare distribution business.  Guzman twice led Owens & Minor to #1 on the InfoWeek 500 roster.

"Harnessing technology to improve service and outcomes – for all industry segments – is the core role of IT in today's competitive environment," said David Guzman, Chief Information Officer, H. D. Smith. "I envision creating new paths to assist H. D. Smith in better serving community pharmacy and health-system customers, and in turn, improving the care and lives of patients."

About H. D. Smith

Headquartered in Springfield, Illinois, H. D. Smith is among the largest national full-line, full-service wholesalers providing a complete line of pharmaceuticals, OTCs, HBAs, home healthcare products, durable medical equipment, seasonal merchandise and a wide array of marketing programs to retail pharmacies, regional chains and health systems. The company has distribution facilities in California, Florida, Kentucky, Illinois, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Texas that service major markets throughout the United States.  Additional information about H. D. Smith can be found at hdsmith.com.

Contact:
Allison Worrell
H. D. Smith
Marketing Communications Manager
217-753-1688
[email protected]

Mark Marmur
Makovsky + Company, Inc.
Assistant Vice President
212-508-9670
[email protected]

SOURCE H. D. Smith