McKesson picks Sysco's Cheung to succeed retiring CFO Vitalone (updated)

Sysco

05/03/2026 13:44

Adds analyst comments in paragraphs 3,5 and 6, graphic

By Sahil  Pandey and Sriparna  Roy

March 5 (Reuters) - U.S. drug distributor McKesson MCK.N said on Thursday that longtime finance chief Britt Vitalone will retire and be succeeded by his counterpart at food distributor Sysco's SYY.N Kenny Cheung.

Vitalone, who has been with the company for 20 years, including more than eight as CFO, will remain as a strategic adviser to support the transition and a planned separation of the medical-surgical business.

"Today's announcement has a bit of an end-of-an-era feeling to it," said Evercore ISI analyst Elizabeth Anderson, adding that Vitalone helped to steer McKesson through COVID-19 disruptions and the opioid litigation resolutions.

Shares of the largest U.S. pharmaceutical distributor were down 5% in morning trade. The stock had gained six-fold during Vitalone's tenure.

"Any surprise changes, for a company that has been a multi-year outperformer, can cause some short-term questions, but the strength of the portfolio and a deep operating bench allow for a transition on strong footing," said Leerink Partners analyst Michael Cherny.

Cheung, who joined as CFO of Sysco in 2023, "culturally will be a good fit" for McKesson, Anderson said, adding he helped the company to execute more consistently post a period of misexecution.

He was previously the finance chief at rental-car firm Hertz HTZ.O. Cheung will start at McKesson on May 29.

Separately, Sysco said Cheung will remain with the company until April 17.

The C-suite leadership changes come as McKesson is betting on oncology and specialty drug distribution businesses to fuel its growth.

Vitalone's tenure marks strong run for Mckesson stock https://tmsnrt.rs/4cuyXca

 (Reporting by Sriparna Roy and Sahil Pandey in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Sriraj Kalluvila)

 ((Sriparna.Roy@thomsonreuters.com;))