Pfizer, Ian Read
The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced that its executive chairman of the board, Ian Read, has chosen to retire at this year’s end, with his position succeeded by the company’s CEO, Albert Bourla, who will also retain his current position.
66-year-old Ian Read has been with Pfizer since 1978, when he was hired as an operational auditor. He was named CEO the company in 2010, and chairman of the board of directors in 2011.
In a statement, the executive said “It’s been my greatest privilege to serve alongside Pfizer colleagues for the past 41 years,” and added, “I have tremendous confidence in Albert, the board and our colleagues, and believe that Pfizer’s best days are yet to come.”
On his side, Albert Bourla, who began his career at Pfizer starting by the company’s animal health division in 1993, commented on the transition as an ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ and added that Read led the company to become a ‘stronger and more stable’ institution with his ‘unrelenting’ focus on culture, creating value and developing talent.
“His leadership and counsel have been invaluable to the company, and more personally, I have benefited greatly from Ian’s advice, guidance and friendship,” Bourla said about Read.
