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C-Suite Spotlight
123Dentist, one of Canada’s largest and fastest-growing dental support organizations (DSOs), recently announced the appointment of Jeff Leger as Chief Executive Officer, effective July 2, 2025. Leger, a pharmacist by profession, brings nearly two decades of leadership experience from Shoppers Drug Mart, where he most recently served as President.
Throughout his tenure, he led the transformation of customer experience, scaled a high-performing franchise network, and integrated innovative healthcare services across the country. As he steps into his new role at 123Dentist, Leger is poised to build on the company’s strong foundation and help lead its next phase of growth, innovation, and clinical excellence.
In the following Q&A, he shares what drew him to the dental industry, his vision for the organization, and how he plans to help shape the future of dental care in Canada.
GDN: Congratulations on your new role. What drew you to 123Dentist and the dental support organization space after a successful career in the pharmacy and retail healthcare sectors?
Jeff Leger: I’m honored to join a company with such a strong reputation for clinical integrity, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to patient care.
I’m excited about the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Shivji and the entire team, to build on this foundation and help scale 123Dentist into the largest and most respected dental community and organization in the country.
GDN: As someone who led a national healthcare network at Shoppers Drug Mart, how do you plan to apply those insights and strategies to the dental industry and to 123Dentist’s network of practices across Canada?
Jeff Leger: Delivering high-quality patient care is fundamental in the healthcare industry.
At 123Dentist, our mission is to provide exceptional dental services while cultivating strong, trust-based relationships between patients and dentists, something I am committed to continuing and advancing.
Compassionate, personalized care not only improves oral health outcomes but also empowers patients to take an active role in their well-being.
GDN: With Dr. Amin Shivji transitioning to Executive Chair, how will you collaborate with him during this leadership transition, and how do you plan to maintain the company’s founding culture and clinical focus?
Jeff Leger: We will partner together to bring both of our skills and experience to the table to remain a dental team first DSO.
The partnership of Dr. Shivji as Executive Chair, our investors, and me as CEO will ensure we are able to grow and scale to become the largest and most successful DSO in Canada.
Dr. Shivji will continue to focus on the dental side of the business with me leveraging my experience in scaling a household Canadian healthcare brand to lead 123Dentist into its next phase of national expansion and operational excellence.
GDN: What do you see as the greatest opportunities for DSOs in Canada right now? How is 123Dentist positioned to lead through them?
Jeff Leger: One of the biggest opportunities for DSOs in Canada lies in building communities where like-minded dental professionals feel a true sense of belonging and purpose.
By focusing on delivering high-quality clinical care 123Dentist is positioned to lead. Our model prioritizes clinical autonomy, peer collaboration, and a strong support system, creating an environment where dental teams can thrive and patients receive the highest standard of care.
In the dentistry landscape, patient care is the top priority, but at 123Dentist we believe professional growth and community impact are just as important. We’ve built a network where you can expand your expertise, learn from your peers, and stay at the forefront of dentistry through mentorship and continuing education.
GDN: How will 123Dentist continue to emphasize preserving clinical autonomy and local practice identity?
Jeff Leger: Dr. Shivji and I will work closely together. He will continue to focus on the dental side of the business, and I will leverage my experience in scaling a prominent healthcare brand to lead 123Dentist into its next phase of national growth and operational excellence.
GDN: Technology and innovation continue to evolve quickly in dentistry. What role do you see for digital transformation, AI, and other emerging tools in 123Dentist’s operations and patient care?
Jeff Leger: 123Dentist recently expanded its adoption of AI in its clinical operations by implementing VideaHealth’s AI solution across its network. This initiative enhances diagnostic accuracy, empowers clinicians, and improves patient engagement through cutting-edge artificial intelligence.
By integrating AI into the workflow, we are ensuring clinicians remain in control of decision-making while leveraging AI to enhance diagnostic accuracy and streamline patient communication.
AI in dentistry is designed to enhance, not replace, doctor expertise. It’s a clinical tool that will help our doctors support their clinical diagnosis and discussions with patients. VideaAI by VideaHealth supports our clinical teams by fostering patient trust through case presentation.
Our approach to AI integration focuses on enhancing both clinical excellence and patient trust. Rather than automating care, the company is investing in human-AI collaboration, where AI serves as a support system for dental professionals
AI is a powerful tool, but it’s the human connection that drives exceptional care. VideaHealth stood out as our AI partner of choice for its ability to drive technology adoption in doctor-led organizations and provide real results that improve patient satisfaction. By integrating VideaAI into our practices, we’re ensuring that technology enhances – not replaces – the clinician-patient relationship.
GDN: As the organization grows, how will you approach recruitment and retention of dental professionals – especially amid growing competition for talent in Canada?
Jeff Leger: Since the beginning, we’ve been dedicated to enhancing dental care while building a culture rooted in collaboration, trust, and excellence.
