Association for Accessible Medicines CEO to lead group whose members have been targeted by lawsuits in opioid crisis

Davis

Chip Davis has been named the next CEO of the $18 million-revenue Healthcare Distribution Alliance, a group whose members have faced multiple legal challenges in recent years for their alleged role in fueling the current opioid epidemic.

Davis is current CEO of the $25 million Association for Accessible Medicines, which he has led since 2015. He will join HDA in March, succeeding John Gray, who is stepping down after having led the association for nearly 16 years.

The Arlington, Va.-based HDA represents primary pharmaceutical distributors, which act as middlemen between drug makers and pharmacies. Some distributors have been accused of turning a blind eye to pharmacies that ordered suspiciously large amounts of opioid medications and have been targeted in lawsuits as a result.

Drug distributors are also engaged in the national debate over the rising costs of prescription medications.

In hiring Davis, HDA tapped a CEO with extensive experience lobbying for the pharmaceutical industry. In addition to his leadership of AAM, he previously was executive vice president for advocacy and member relations at Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and a lobbyist for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.

"Chip's leadership experience and strong advocacy background in healthcare make him the perfect candidate to lead HDA," Greg Drew, chairman of the HDA Board of Directors, said in a statement. "Chip understands the complex relationships and challenges of our industry and member companies and has a deep appreciation for ensuring that all patients receive the right medicines, at the right time, safely and efficiently."

Davis received nearly $1.15 million in take-home pay at AAM in 2017, according to the latest available tax records. Gray earned more than $1.22 million in 2018, according to the latest available records for that group.

Korn Ferry assisted in the search for HDA.

AAM said in a statement that Jeffrey Francer, senior vice president and general counsel, will be interim CEO until association's board of directors determines a permanent replacement.