Mr Meader served as managing director of Numark and group sales and marketing director for its parent company Phoenix UK, which also owns multiple Rowlands pharmacy.
But the company announced today (February 1) that he “has decided to leave the business to pursue his career outside of the Phoenix group”.
Mr Meader took up the position of Numark managing director in February 2018, after being sales director at Phoenix for three years.
Read more: Jeremy Meader to replace John D’Arcy as Numark managing director
He previously worked at GlaxoSmithKline and Alliance Healthcare.
The company thanked Mr Meader “for his commitment and dedication over the years and wishe[d] him all the best for his professional and private future”.
Mr Meader was a vocal champion of the sector while at Phoenix, writing for C+D in October that the underfunding of community pharmacy in England could amount to as much as £1 billion over the lifetime of the five-year contract.
Meanwhile, he told C+D in December that rising locum rates had “caused tremendous problems” and “can’t be sustainable for the industry” in the long term.
John Pignone to take up director role
Phoenix has appointed John Pignone as Mr Meader’s successor as sales director of the group, however it remains unclear whether he will also take on the role as Numark director.
Mr Pignone joined the business today, the group announced.
“I am really excited to be joining the Phoenix UK team at a time when the business is growing,” Mr Pignone said.
Phoenix “continues to outpace the competition” despite “all the challenges in the market”, he added.
“I am looking forward to being part of the team during the next stage of implementing the business’ profitable growth strategy,” he said.
Read more: Minister praises "fantastic" team on visit to Rowlands pharmacy
Mr Pignone will report directly into Nigel Swift, Phoenix’s deputy managing director.
Before joining Phoenix, he served as managing director at Synergy Medical Europe. Prior to that, he was at Alliance Healthcare for over nine years as commercial director.
Mr Pignone has “a proven record of delivering sales and profit growth within challenging markets”, Phoenix said.
Read more: Locum pharmacists: Industry rate rises unsustainable, Numark director warns