Helena Foulkes
Helena Foulkes | |
|---|---|
| Born | Helena Grace Buonanno July 18, 1964 Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, political figure |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Known for | CEO of Hudson's Bay Company, Democratic candidate for Governor of Rhode Island (2022) |
Helena Grace Foulkes (born Buonanno; July 18, 1964) is an American entrepreneur and political figure. She pursued the Democratic nomination for Governor of Rhode Island in the 2022 race and previously held the position of chief executive officer at Hudson's Bay Company.
Early life and education
Foulkes, the oldest among five siblings and daughter of an attorney, was raised in Rhode Island and attended Lincoln School located in Providence. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College, where she met her future spouse, marrying him in 1989. Her senior thesis advisor was Larry Summers. Subsequently, she obtained her MBA from Harvard Business School.
Career
Following her studies at Harvard, Foulkes had brief stints at Goldman Sachs and Tiffany & Co before joining CVS in 1992. She advanced to the role of executive vice president and chief marketing officer, where she spearheaded the introduction of the ExtraCare card, a loyalty savings program, and developed the Pharmacy Advisor initiative aimed at assisting customers managing chronic illnesses.
In 2011, CVS created the position of chief health care strategy and marketing officer specifically for her appointment. By 2015, she was responsible for overseeing 9,600 retail outlets along with 18 distribution hubs. Foulkes played a pivotal role in CVS's strategic choice to discontinue tobacco product sales to reposition itself as a healthcare provider. Her leadership also extended to philanthropic efforts and the implementation of digital strategies designed to increase consumer interaction with pharmacy services.
In 2015, Fortune magazine included her among its Most Powerful Women, emphasizing her contribution to CVS’s $1.9 billion acquisition of Target's pharmacy operations—significantly broadening CVS’s national presence—and enhancing store departments focused on beauty and healthy food options.
On February 5, 2018, Hudson's Bay Company, which owns Saks Fifth Avenue, named Foulkes as CEO effective February 19. Early during her leadership, she encountered difficulties in realigning company strategies amid declining retail performance.
Foulkes announced her resignation from Hudson's Bay in March 2020 following a shareholder agreement to privatize the company.
In April 2021, she assumed the presidency of the Harvard Board of Overseers, the second-ranking governing board at Harvard University.
On October 13, 2021, Foulkes entered the race for Governor of Rhode Island, emphasizing priorities such as job creation, regulatory reform, climate action, and education enhancement. Although she did not win the primary, she finished close behind incumbent governor Dan McKee, trailing by approximately 4%.
Personal life
Foulkes is a mother of four and participates in marathon running. Her mother passed away from lung cancer in 2009. She is descended from a political family as the granddaughter of Thomas J. Dodd and niece of Chris Dodd, both former U.S. senators representing Connecticut.