Doug Nathanson

Doug Nathanson is Executive Vice-President, Chief Pharmacy and Development Officer, and General Counsel of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc. In addition to heading the company’s legal function, he has leadership accountability for pharmacy, real estate, corporate strategy and development, strategic sourcing, communications and corporate affairs, government relations and sustainability.

Prior to joining Empire, Doug served as General Counsel at Canadian Tire Corporation, overseeing all legal matters across the Canadian Tire family of companies. He also held the role of Chief Human Resources Officer, led the petroleum business and managed the corporate strategy group.

Earlier in his career, Doug was Associate General Counsel at MI Developments, Magna International’s real estate operating company. He began his career at major international law firms in Toronto and New York, and served as a clerk at the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

Doug sits on the boards of Kids Help Phone and the Sobey Foundation. He is also a trustee on the board of Crombie REIT and a former director of the board of the Sinai Health Foundation. In 2024, Report on Business magazine recognized him as one of Canada's top executives for his strategic and collaborative leadership. In 2025, Doug received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his "profound and lasting contribution to Ontario and Canada."

He is a member of the bar in both Ontario and New York State, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (High Distinction) from Carleton University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law, where he won the Angus MacMurchy Gold Medal.