Clayton, Dubilier & Rice has engaged Liam FitzGerald, former Chief Executive Officer of UDG Healthcare plc, as an Operating Advisor to CD&R funds. Mr. FitzGerald will work out of CD&R's London office.
As CEO of UDG Healthcare from 2000 until 2016, Mr. FitzGerald expanded the business from a mainly Irish-based distribution services business into a multi-faceted and multi-national healthcare services group, operating across 20 countries. During that period, the company's market capitalization increased by more than 500 percent and earnings grew at a compound annual rate of more than 20 percent. Mr. FitzGerald is credited with leading and seamlessly integrating more than 30 acquisitions into the parent company. UDG Healthcare is a FTSE 250-listed company with a market capitalization of €1.7 billion and approximately 8,000 employees.
"Liam is a recognized leader who has a demonstrated record of driving sustained enterprise growth, market share gains and value creation on a global scale," said CD&R Partner David Novak. "He brings valuable healthcare industry expertise, deep market insights and a broad network, particularly in Europe where we are enthusiastic about the investment opportunities presented by strong secular trends in the healthcare space."
Prior to serving as CEO of UDG Healthcare, Mr. FitzGerald was the company's director of healthcare supply chain from 1996 until 2000, where he was responsible for strategic planning and delivering revenue and EBIT targets for the group. As business development manager for the company's drug distribution unit from 1993 until 1996, Mr. FitzGerald oversaw the doubling of the business unit's market share of the outsourced pharmaceuticals distribution sector to 60 percent from 30 percent.
"This is a very exciting time to invest in healthcare, a sector where CD&R has an established record of success," said Mr. FitzGerald. "I look forward to helping the team continue to make great healthcare investments, as well as build great businesses, in both Europe and the United States."
Mr. FitzGerald is a recipient of a William L. Ford Award (IFPW Award) for outstanding contribution to worldwide pharmaceutical wholesaling, as well as the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, UCD, Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2008. He has chaired Traidlinks, a sub-Saharan charity focused on fostering entrepreneurship in Africa; the Marketing Society of Ireland; and the International Federation of Pharma Wholesalers (IFPW). Mr. FitzGerald earned his Bachelor of Commerce from the University College Dublin and his Master of Business Studies from Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. Additional executive education includes Harvard Business School for competition and strategy, as well as strategic finance and acquisitions, and UCLA's Anderson School of Management for mergers and acquisitions.
About Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
Founded in 1978, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice is a private investment firm with an investment strategy predicated on producing financial returns through building stronger, more profitable businesses. Since inception, CD&R has managed the investment of $22 billion in 72 businesses representing a broad range of industries with an aggregate transaction value of approximately $100 billion. The Firm has offices in London and New York. For more information, visit www.cdr-inc.com.
