THE WILL TO WYNNE

Retiring London Drugs CEO Wynne Powell goes out on top.

When Wynne Powell retires as London Drugs’ chief executive officer next month, he’ll spend a lot of time travelling the world with his wife, Glenys.

But he won’t carry a briefcase full of money, like he did 30 years ago when he was a rising company executive intent on impressing skeptical computer companies in California’s Silicon Valley.

Back in 1983, Powell convinced London Drugs chairman Tong Louie the drugstore chain should sell computers.

The market was dominated by low- end computers and game consoles and Powell felt London Drugs could go after a different niche — customers with family businesses that needed computerization.

So off he went to California to convince computer firms to let London Drugs sell their products.

He was basically laughed out of the state as soon as the companies heard he represented a drugstore. After all, what could a Canadian drugstore possibly know about selling computers? But Powell never gave up, and when he returned to Silicon Valley for a second trip, he packed a briefcase filled with about $ 10,000 in cash.

“When they started laughing, I’d open up the briefcase and show them the money and say: ‘ Look, this is about us both making money,’ ” he said in an interview Wednesday. “I had to show them we were serious. We weren’t American but

He’s one of the best, for sure, because London Drugs can go toe- to- toe with any major retailer and that was all Wynne ( Powell).

DAVID IAN GRAY

VANCOUVER RETAIL CONSULTANT

we had money and we wanted to spend it and grow with them. We had a lot of fun.”

The tactic clearly worked because London Drugs’ computer business flourished and the chain became Microsoft’s first direct retail account in Canada in the mid1980s.

“I can still pick up the phone or email ( Microsoft CEO) Steve Ballmer and he responds very quickly because he remembers those days,” said Powell, who turns 67 next month and will leave London Drugs on Feb. 23.

He will remain president and CEO of associated Louie family companies London Air Services and London Enterprises, which operates Sonora Resort in Desolation Sound.

Powell will be replaced by London Drugs chief operating officer Clint Mahlman, 48, who will assume the title of executive vice- president.

Powell, a keen photographer, was part owner of Kerrisdale Cameras, Lens & Shutter and Island Colour Labs before he was recruited by London Drugs in 1982 to improve the chain’s photo departments.

He became chief operating officer of London Drugs in 1995 before becoming president in 1998 and chief executive officer in 2009.

London Drugs operated 18 stores when Powell joined the company 32 years ago. It now runs 78 stores throughout Western Canada, employs about 7,500 people and generates an estimated $ 2- billionplus in annual revenue.

Vancouver retail consultant David Ian Gray attributes much of that growth to Powell.

“He’s one of the best, for sure, because London Drugs can go toe-to-toe with any major retailer and that was all Wynne,” said Gray, president of DIG360 Consulting.

“For a regional player to stand up against all the onslaughts over the years — from Walmart, Best Buy and others — and continue to excel is just amazing, amazing stuff.”

He said Powell is an entrepreneurial retail leader who is “refreshingly without ego,” even though London Drugs became one of the most trusted retail brands in Canada under his leadership.

“He has never felt that being a western Canadian chain means he must be a follower and I find that inspiring,” Gray said.

In a message to London Drug employees this week, company chairman Brandt Louie said Powell demonstrated “visionary leadership” by creating explosive growth and industry- leading approaches to digital imaging.

“His passion for technology has kept London Drugs on the forefront of products and services,” he said.

Powell admits he’s a workaholic but attributes much of his success to the “tremendous team” at London Drugs.

He stressed he never ran the firm for bottom- line purposes only and cited the company’s recent civil cases against Stanley Cup rioters as an example. London Drugs’ flagship downtown Vancouver store suffered about $ 750,000 in losses during the 2011 riot and the company has launched civil cases against several rioters.

Any money recovered will be paid to the firm’s insurance company, but Powell said there’s a principle at stake.

“It’s not a money thing at all,” he said. “We were very offended by how they frightened our staff and we wanted to make sure ( the rioters) learn a compelling lesson.”

Powell will continue to chair the B. C. Provincial Health Services Authority, which he has done since 2001, and will remain chairman of the Emergency Health Services Commission of B. C., which is responsible for emergency care and ambulance service for the province.