Cardinal Health vs McKesson: Founders, CEOs and History
Cardinal Health was founded in 1971 by Robert D. Walter and is led by Jason M. Hollar. McKesson was founded in 1833 by John McKesson, Charles Olcott and is led by Brian S. Tyler.
Company facts
Cardinal Health
- Founded
- 1971
- Headquarters
- Dublin, Ohio, United States
- Current CEO
- Jason M. Hollar
- Employees
- 63,900
McKesson
- Founded
- 1833
- Headquarters
- Irving, Texas, United States
- Current CEO
- Brian S. Tyler
- Employees
- 43,000
Founders
Cardinal Health
Robert D. Walter
Cardinal Health possesses a unique and unexpected founding history: the pharmaceutical distributor was not founded by a doctor or a pharmacist, but rather by an ambitious entrepreneur attempting to consolidate the wholesale food industry.
McKesson
John McKesson
John McKesson co-founded Olcott & McKesson in New York City in 1833 with Charles Olcott, importing and wholesaling drugs and chemicals.
Charles Olcott
Charles Olcott was the senior partner in Olcott & McKesson, the New York drug wholesaler founded in 1833. Following his death, the business was reorganized as McKesson & Robbins in 1853.
CEOs and their tenures
Cardinal Health
- Robert D. Walter1971–2006
Founder, Chairman, and CEO
Walter founded Cardinal Health in 1971 as a food wholesaler and pivoted to pharmaceutical distribution in 1979. He executed dozens of acquisitions that transformed the company from a small regional distributor into a $50+ billion healthcare conglomerate.
Source - Kerry Clark2006–2009
Chairman and CEO
Clark led Cardinal Health through a period of strategic repositioning, including the spin-off of the CareFusion medical technology business. He focused on improving operational efficiency and addressing the challenges of the post-Walter era.
Source - George Barrett2009–2017
Chairman and CEO
Barrett led Cardinal Health through significant strategic initiatives including the acquisition of the Patient Recovery business from Medtronic ($6.1 billion) and the establishment of the Red Oak Sourcing joint venture with CVS Health.
Source - Mike Kaufmann2018–2022
CEO
Kaufmann led Cardinal Health through the opioid litigation settlement and the COVID-19 pandemic, which created demand for medical supplies and pharmaceuticals. He focused on operational execution and maintaining supply chain continuity during the crisis.
Source - Jason M. Hollar2022–present
CEO
Hollar joined Cardinal Health as CFO in 2020 and became CEO in September 2022. He has led the company through the OptumRx contract exit, the GMPD improvement plan, and acquisitions including GI Alliance, ADSG, and Solaris Health.
Source
McKesson
- John Hammergren2001–2019
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of McKesson from 2001 to 2019.
Source - Brian S. Tyler2019–present
Chief Executive Officer
CEO since April 2019. Tyler led the 2022 opioid settlement, the exit from Europe, the shift toward oncology, multispecialty and biopharma services, and the plan to separate Medical-Surgical Solutions as Wellverse.
Source
Timeline: Cardinal Health and McKesson side by side
1833McKesson
Olcott & McKesson is founded
Charles Olcott and John McKesson established a New York wholesaler of therapeutic drugs and chemicals, creating the distribution foundation of today's McKesson.
1971Cardinal Health
Cardinal Foods Founded by Robert D. Walter
Robert D. Walter, a 26-year-old Harvard MBA graduate, borrowed $1.3 million to acquire the food-distribution division of Consolidated Foods in a leveraged buyout, establishing Cardinal Foods in Columbus, Ohio.
1979Cardinal Health
Pivot to Pharmaceutical Distribution
Walter acquired Bailey Drug Co., a pharmaceutical distributor in Zanesville, Ohio, marking Cardinal's entry into pharmaceutical distribution.
1983Cardinal Health
Cardinal Distribution Goes Public
Cardinal Distribution Inc. completed its initial public offering on the NASDAQ at $1.03 per share, providing capital for continued expansion through acquisitions.
1984Cardinal Health
Acquisition of Ellicott Drug
Cardinal acquired Ellicott Drug, a pharmaceutical distributor in Buffalo, New York, continuing the acquisition-driven expansion strategy that would define the company's growth for decades.
1988Cardinal Health
Sale of Food Operations to Roundy's Inc.
Cardinal sold its remaining food operations to Roundy's Inc., completing the company's transition from a diversified food and drug distributor to a pure-play pharmaceutical distribution company.
1994Cardinal Health
Name Change to Cardinal Health
The company changed its name from Cardinal Distribution to Cardinal Health, reflecting its expanding mission beyond pure distribution into healthcare services, manufacturing, and technology. Revenues exceeded $1 billion by 1991.
1995Cardinal Health
Acquisition of Medicine Shoppe International
Cardinal acquired Medicine Shoppe International, the country's largest franchise of retail pharmacies, marking the company's first significant non-distribution acquisition and entry into retail pharmacy.
1996Cardinal Health
Acquisition of Pyxis Corp.
Cardinal acquired Pyxis Corp., a manufacturer of automated supply and pharmaceutical dispensing systems for hospitals, adding medical technology capabilities to the company's portfolio.
1999Cardinal Health
Acquisition of Allegiance Healthcare Corp.
Cardinal acquired Allegiance Healthcare Corp. for approximately $4.4 billion, becoming a major player in the medical-surgical products market and establishing the foundation for what would become the Global Medical Products and Distribution segment.
2013Cardinal Health
Red Oak Sourcing Joint Venture with CVS
Cardinal Health and CVS Caremark announced the creation of Red Oak Sourcing, a 50/50 joint venture to form the largest generic pharmaceutical sourcing entity in the United States. The venture began operations in July 2014 with an initial 10-year term.
2014Cardinal Health
Loss of Walgreens Contract
Cardinal Health lost a major pharmaceutical distribution contract with Walgreens, which shifted its distribution to AmerisourceBergen. The contract had generated $3.3 billion in quarterly revenue.
2017Cardinal Health
Acquisition of Patient Recovery Business from Medtronic
Cardinal Health acquired the Patient Recovery business from Medtronic for $6.1 billion, expanding its medical products portfolio and adding significant scale to the Global Medical Products and Distribution segment.
2017McKesson
Change Healthcare joint venture begins trading
McKesson combined most of its technology businesses with Change Healthcare. McKesson later completed its separation from Change Healthcare; it did not acquire the company in 2024.
2021McKesson
National opioid settlement framework
McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen reached a nationwide settlement framework with states and local governments concerning opioid-distribution claims.
2024Cardinal Health
OptumRx Contract Non-Renewal Announced
Cardinal Health's pharmaceutical distribution contracts with OptumRx (part of UnitedHealth Group) expired at the end of June 2024 and were not renewed. They represented about $38.1 billion of fiscal 2024 revenue.
2025Cardinal Health
Fiscal 2025 Results and Raised FY2026 Guidance
Cardinal Health reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $222.6 billion, down about 2% after the OptumRx contract expiration, while net earnings rose to about $1.6 billion.
2025McKesson
Oncology platform expands
McKesson completed investments in PRISM Vision and Core Ventures, expanding its provider footprint in ophthalmology, oncology, and multispecialty care.
2025McKesson
Medical-Surgical separation announced
Management announced plans to separate Medical-Surgical Solutions so McKesson could focus capital on oncology, multispecialty, and biopharma services.
2026Cardinal Health
Fiscal 2026 Revenue Reaches $254.2 Billion
Fiscal 2026 revenue rose 14% to $254.2 billion and non-GAAP EPS rose 37% to $11.26, with profit growth in all five operating segments.
2026McKesson
European exit completed
The sale of McKesson's Norwegian retail and distribution operations completed the company's exit from European operations.
2026McKesson
Revenue reaches $403.4 billion
McKesson reported $403.4 billion of fiscal 2026 revenue, up 12%, with growth led by pharmaceutical distribution and oncology and multispecialty services.
Acquisitions
Cardinal Health
- Advanced Diabetes Supply Group (ADSG)2025$1.1B
- Solaris Health (via The Specialty Alliance)2025$1.9B
- Integrated Oncology Network (ION)2024Undisclosed
- GI Alliance (71% stake)2024$2.8B
- Patient Recovery Business from Medtronic2017$6.1B
- Allegiance Healthcare Corp.1999Undisclosed
McKesson
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Questions about Cardinal Health vs McKesson
Who is the CEO of Cardinal Health, Inc. and McKesson Corporation?
Cardinal Health, Inc. is led by Jason M. Hollar and McKesson Corporation is led by Brian S. Tyler. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Cardinal Health, Inc. founded vs McKesson Corporation?
McKesson Corporation was founded in 1833 — 138 years before Cardinal Health, Inc., which was founded in 1971. McKesson Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Cardinal Health, Inc..
How many employees does Cardinal Health, Inc. have compared to McKesson Corporation?
Cardinal Health, Inc. employs approximately 63,900 people, while McKesson Corporation employs approximately 43,000. Cardinal Health, Inc. has the larger workforce at 63,900 employees, compared to McKesson Corporation's 43,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Cardinal Health, Inc. and McKesson Corporation headquartered?
Both Cardinal Health, Inc. and McKesson Corporation are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Cardinal Health, Inc. and McKesson Corporation?
Cardinal Health, Inc. was founded by Robert D. Walter. McKesson Corporation was founded by John McKesson, Charles Olcott.
Which company has a longer operating history — Cardinal Health, Inc. or McKesson Corporation?
McKesson Corporation has been operating for approximately 193 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Cardinal Health, Inc. has been in operation for around 55 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Cardinal Health vs McKesson overview