Cardinal Health vs Visa: Founders, CEOs and History
Cardinal Health was founded in 1971 by Robert D. Walter and is led by Jason M. Hollar. Visa was founded in 1958 by Dee Hock and is led by Ryan McInerney.
Company facts
Cardinal Health
- Founded
- 1971
- Headquarters
- Dublin, Ohio, United States
- Current CEO
- Jason M. Hollar
- Employees
- 63,900
Visa
- Founded
- 1958
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, California
- Current CEO
- Ryan McInerney
- Employees
- 34,100
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.
Visa
Dee Hock
Dee Hock (1929-2022) was the founding CEO of National BankAmericard Inc., the bank-owned company that took over the BankAmericard licensing system from Bank of America in 1970 and adopted the Visa name in 1976.
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
Visa
- Alfred F. Kelly Jr.2016–2023
Chief Executive Officer
Serving as CEO from 2016 to 2023, he heavily modernized the massive legacy network, aggressively integrating fintechs and preparing the network to process highly complex cryptocurrency transactions.
Source - Ryan McInerney2023–present
Chief Executive Officer
McInerney joined Visa in 2013 as president after senior roles at JPMorgan Chase and became chief executive on February 1, 2023, succeeding Alfred F. Kelly Jr.
Source
Timeline: Cardinal Health and Visa side by side
1958Visa
BankAmericard launched
Bank of America launched BankAmericard, the direct predecessor to Visa.
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.
1976Visa
Visa name adopted
The network adopted the Visa name to support international acceptance and brand consistency.
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.
2008Visa
Visa IPO
Visa became a public company, changing the economics from a bank association structure to a shareholder-owned company.
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.
2016Visa
Alfred F. Kelly Jr. becomes CEO
Alfred F. Kelly Jr. became CEO of Visa in 2016. Chief executive of Visa from December 2016 to January 2023, when Ryan McInerney succeeded him; Kelly then served as executive chairman.
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.
2020Visa
Acquired Plaid (abandoned)
Visa acquired Plaid (abandoned) for $5.3 billion. Visa agreed in January 2020 to buy US data-connectivity fintech Plaid for USD 5.3 billion.
2022Visa
Tink acquisition
Visa completed its purchase of Stockholm-based open banking platform Tink in March 2022.
2023Visa
Ryan McInerney becomes CEO
Ryan McInerney became Visa's CEO after serving as president.
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.
2025Visa
Revenue reaches $40.0B
Visa reported $40.0 billion in fiscal 2025 net revenue.
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.
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
Questions about Cardinal Health vs Visa
Who is the CEO of Cardinal Health, Inc. and Visa Inc.?
Cardinal Health, Inc. is led by Jason M. Hollar and Visa Inc. is led by Ryan McInerney. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Cardinal Health, Inc. founded vs Visa Inc.?
Visa Inc. was founded in 1958 — 13 years before Cardinal Health, Inc., which was founded in 1971. Visa Inc.'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 Visa Inc.?
Cardinal Health, Inc. employs approximately 63,900 people, while Visa Inc. employs approximately 34,100. Cardinal Health, Inc. has the larger workforce at 63,900 employees, compared to Visa Inc.'s 34,100. 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 Visa Inc. headquartered?
Both Cardinal Health, Inc. and Visa Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Cardinal Health, Inc. and Visa Inc.?
Cardinal Health, Inc. was founded by Robert D. Walter. Visa Inc. was founded by Dee Hock.
Which company has a longer operating history — Cardinal Health, Inc. or Visa Inc.?
Visa Inc. has been operating for approximately 68 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 Visa overview