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OCP Board appoints accomplished regulatory and governance leader Jay O’Neill as Registrar and CEO

TORONTO, ON, September 11, 2025 – After a comprehensive search for a talented and experienced leader with the expertise needed to advance the public-interest mandate of Canada’s largest pharmacy regulator, the Board of the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jay O’Neill as Registrar and CEO, effective November 17, 2025.

“The Board was unanimous in its decision to appoint Jay as Registrar and CEO, someone who brings unmatched qualifications and demonstrated success in regulation, governance, and organizational excellence to this important role. We are beyond thrilled that Jay will be joining OCP,” says Doug Brown, Chair of the OCP Board of Directors. “The Board carefully considered applicants with a range of backgrounds and prioritized the skills and expertise that it felt were most important to lead OCP into the future. Jay stood out as an engaging, highly collaborative and thoughtful leader, someone who leads with humility and a clear passion for regulatory excellence. His exceptional regulatory and governance acumen and experience within complex regulated sectors, combined with his passion for building highly effective organizations and teams, make him well-suited to lead OCP with confidence.”

Jay comes to OCP with a distinguished background in regulatory leadership, most recently serving in his current role as CEO and Registrar of the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) since 2018. There, he has led the organization through critical periods of change such as the COVID-19 pandemic, while building strong partnerships with government and diverse stakeholders including those in the health ecosystem.

With extensive experience in public-interest regulation with a focus on care delivery, governance and organizational modernization, Jay brings a thoughtful and proven approach to strategic leadership, operational excellence, and collaborative engagement that are critical for OCP during a period of significant health system transformation. Among his many priorities, Jay will work closely with staff and leadership to ensure that OCP remains laser-focused on its legislated public-interest mandate as the role of the pharmacy profession continues to rapidly evolve.

As he does, Jay will rely on the expertise and perspectives of staff, members of the Board, system partners, the public and registrants to help ensure that decisions and actions are informed, thoughtful, evidence-based and firmly grounded in regulatory best practices. He is a graduate of the MBA program at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto and holds the governance designation of Chartered Director (C.Dir) from The Director’s College at the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University.

“I’m looking forward to being a part of OCP, an organization that clearly cares about its public-interest mandate,” says Jay. “Strong relationships and teams drive positive outcomes, which is why I believe deeply in listening first to understand the diverse perspectives that are critical to shaping thoughtful and responsible regulation. The regulatory principles, goals and values of OCP align with my own and I believe that the faith the public, government and system partners have in this organization speaks volumes about the important role it plays in regulating a health profession that is among the most trusted in Ontario. I’m honoured to be part of it.”

The Board would like to extend its gratitude to Acting Registrar Susan James and Acting CEO Thomas Custers for their leadership and commitment during this transition and look forward to their ongoing support as the new Registrar and CEO prepares to join the organization. They will remain in their acting roles until Jay’s official start on November 17, 2025.

The Board would also like to express its thanks to staff for their unwavering commitment and support during this transition, and to members of the Search Committee and executive search partners at Mirams Becker for their leadership throughout the recruitment for a new Registrar and CEO.

OCP will provide a further update once Jay has officially joined the organization. In the meantime, inquiries can be directed to [email protected].