Sir Graeme Douglas, MD of Douglas Pharmaceuticals, announces retirement

[William Douglas]

The founder of Douglas Pharmaceuticals, Sir Graeme Douglas, has announced his retirement as the company’s managing director, effective February 1. He will remain as chairman of the Board and his son, Jeff Douglas, the current chief executive, will assume the role of managing director of the Douglas Corporate Group, New Zealand’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturer. 

Sir Graeme, who turns 85 this month, says he has no intention of retiring from business. On the contrary, he is starting a new specialist nutrition company, Douglas Nutrition, which he will run independently from Douglas Pharmaceuticals. The company already has four staff and premises in Henderson, Auckland. It will produce supplements for infants, pregnant mothers, geriatrics and patients with very debilitating illness, and will particularly focus on export markets.