Henry Schein named Dirk Benson as vice president and chief commercial officer of its North America Distribution Group.

Henry Schein appointed Dirk Benson to vice president and chief commercial officer of the company’s North America Distribution Group (NADG).

In this new position, Benson will drive Henry Schein’s One Distribution initiative, a critical element of the company’s 2022-2024 BOLD+1 Strategic Plan.

One Distribution is designed to more tightly integrate the management of Henry Schein’s distribution businesses globally to fully leverage the functions, talent, processes, and systems to enhance the customer experience and maximize efficiency and performance.

Benson will be responsible for the entire dental and medical customer-facing organization in the US of the NADG, Henry Schein’s largest business group. He will report to Brad Connett, Chief Executive Officer, North America Distribution Group.

Before Henry Schein, Benson had a 27-year career with healthcare products distributor Medline Industries, a manufacturer and distributor of healthcare supplies.

Benson retired from Medline in 2020 as a member of the company’s executive committee.

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a graduate of Marquette University, Benson joined Medline in 1993.

“Dirk is an outstanding professional,” said Connett. “He is held in high regard in the industry, with a track record of growing innovative businesses and leading people. Dirk has a deep knowledge of health care distribution, experience building teams that work across boundaries, and the energy and insight needed to help Henry Schein fulfill our strategic plan.”

Additionally, Nancy Lanni has been named vice president and general manager of the newly created strategic account management team, responsible for serving the company’s large dental and medical distribution customers in the US as a part of Benson’s team.

Lanni, who joined Henry Schein in 1995, has held several leadership positions at the company, most recently as the head of the healthcare services team of the Company’s US Medical Group, serving the group’s largest customers.

“Nancy has done an extraordinary job with our medical strategic customers and has developed a particular expertise in working with the executive suite of large healthcare organizations,” said Mr. Connett. “She has a deep understanding of the changing dynamics of our customers, and as the trend toward consolidation accelerates across the markets we serve, Nancy’s insights and leadership capabilities will benefit the team, our customers, and our business.”

Photo courtesy of Henry Schein