Q&A with Al Todd
Meet Al Todd, Director, Human Resources for Apotex Pharmachem in Brantford, Ontario. He leads a team of Human Resource professionals who play a key role in attracting, developing, and retaining top talent.
Al’s team supports the effective delivery of Human Resource policies and programs across the organization including Apotex Values and Winning Behaviors and Global Business Ethics & Compliance and Safety, Health and Environment.
We asked Al about his experience at Apotex and what he looks for in potential candidates.
Describe your journey with the Apotex team.
I joined Apotex Pharmachem Inc. in Brantford, a little over 8 years ago, time sure flies with all the growth the organization has gone through. I joined from Kellogg’s Canada and found the transition from Frosted Flakes to pharmaceutical manufacturing very interesting.
I provide direct Human Resource leadership, as well as health and safety oversight and support for the Brantford Site and the Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (GAPIP GTA) groups.
What do you enjoy most about working at Apotex each day?
Belonging to a team of dedicated people who make the medicines that help our patients around the world. It is gratifying when I can tell people, we make the ingredients that go into our products and if they see a blue lid or APO on a pharmacy script it is from us.
You are currently looking to fill a Human Resource Partner, People & Performance position on your team, what will that person be doing and what qualities do you look for in a potential candidate?
We are looking first and foremost for someone aligned with our values - Passion, Perseverance, Courage, and Collaboration, the successful candidate will be someone who is a strong leader and well-grounded in Human Resource best practices. As a member of the Human Resources leadership team, the Human Resources Partner, People & Performance will be responsible for leading and implementing Human Resources programs including workforce analytics/planning, performance management, talent management acquisition, succession planning, change management, training, and development, and HR systems. As well as, provide ongoing support to assigned client groups.
As a leader, how do you motivate your team?
I find out from each member of my team what their professional and personal interests are, and how I can help realize their full potential. I look for each team member to drive their performance and I see my role as enabling and getting barriers out of the way for them.
What is one thing you would like people to know about working at Apotex?
We are like a family who supports each other on a personal and professional basis, but we are professional in our approach to ensuring our stakeholder’s interests are best served.
You have been with Apotex for 8 years, what has influenced you to stay?
I enjoy finding solutions for the challenges we face, and of course the people I get to work with each day. I love that we make products that help people and can extend a helping hand to our local communities. For example, at the beginning of the pandemic, we repurposed our manufacturing capability to produce hand sanitizer to support our local agencies and healthcare facilities – I am proud to work at Apotex and it is rewarding to see our product name on a hand sanitizer container in my doctor’s office.
