Purolator provided essential services during the pandemic, keeping Canada’s healthcare system running and supplied. It also provided essential services to meet the demands of a surge in e-commerce, allowing Canadians to shop from the safety of their own homes. Now, coming out of the pandemic, the Canadian company has increased its efforts to provide health and wellness programs to its staff members, recognizing how essential their well-being is to business success. Host Russell Evans sits down with Purolator’s President and CEO, John Ferguson. He explains how Purolator is positioned to continue being a uniquely Canadian shipping and freight company that can meet the challenges of the future.
After this episode, you’ll learn:
- How Purolator is combining the power of innovation and sustainability to better serve the company’s customers and its employee base of more than 14,000.
- Some of the challenges the company has faced over the past few years, and how they are working to overcome them.
- Some of the innovative health services Purolator is offering to staff members.
- The future of the shipping and freight industry in Canada.
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Biography
John Ferguson, ICD.D
President & Chief Executive Officer
Purolator Inc.
John is President and Chief Executive Officer of Purolator, leading a team of more than 14,000 employees across North America, where he is responsible for leading the company’s rapid growth and transformation.
In the course of his 30-year career, John has gained extensive experience in leading businesses in the transportation and logistics sectors across North America. Holding a variety of diverse, senior roles, he has demonstrated a proven track record in financial performance, operational excellence, automation, innovation and strategic planning.
Prior to Purolator, John was President and CEO of SCI Logistics, where he led its transformation into a leading supply chain solutions company with operations across Canada.
As the leader of Purolator, John has driven record operational and financial performance by motivating and empowering the workforce. This provided the capital and catalyst for a $1 billion growth initiative that is expanding and automating the business infrastructure to capture e-commerce market share through a world class last-mile logistics network.
John understands the critical importance of combining innovation and environmental sustainability. For example, by building the largest hybrid-electric fleet in the industry, Purolator has decreased its direct GHG emissions by 11% even with a significant increase in delivery volume.
John is a strong advocate for the people side of business, launching new priorities most notably workforce diversity and mental health programs, championing corporate culture and innovation through continuous improvement. Under his leadership, Purolator was honoured with the prestigious Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Culture award in 2019. John’s leadership and support for the company’s flagship “Purolator Tackle Hunger Program” has generated a 24% increase in donated food it delivers to food banks across Canada – 1.65 million pounds.
John currently serves on the board of directors of Trillium Health Partners Foundation, SCI Group Inc., and Innovapost Inc. He is also an active member in YPO (Young Presidents Organization).
John holds a Corporate Director designation (ICD.D) from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.