Pfizer Leaders, Founders, and Executives

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Pfizer Incorporated is a multinational pharmaceutical company specializing in scientific research to develop and innovate medicines, vaccines, and other pharmaceutical products. The company has committed to revolutionizing healthcare to change patients’ lives.

Pfizer’s missions for better healthcare and scientific medical research anchor on the competence of the company’s leadership team. Learn more about Pfizer leaders, founders, and executives here.

Table of Contents

Pfizer Inc.’s Leaders and Executives

Here is the rundown of Pfizer’s leaders, founders, and executives.

Albert Bourla

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Albert Bourla has been Pfizer Inc.’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) since 2019. Bourla has accumulated nearly 20 years of experience promoting Pfizer’s purpose of creating medical breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Dr. Albert Bourla heads the company’s patent products business, commercial strategy, research, manufacturing, and global product development functions.

Dr. Bourla became Vice President of Pfizer Animal Health’s Business Development and New Products Marketing divisions from 2004 to 2005 — becoming his first executive role at Pfizer Inc. He held different presidential and general manager positions for various business segments, including Pfizer Innovative Health, Vaccines, Oncology & Consumer Healthcare (VOC), and Established Products Business Unit.

Sally Susman

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and Executive Vice President

Sally Susman has been the Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer for Pfizer Inc. since 2007. She provides strategic guidance to other Pfizer executives, engaging the company’s stakeholders through digital advocacy and managing communications, corporate responsibility, ESGs, government and investor relations, and patient advocacy.

Susman has 30 years of professional experience leading corporate and government functions at international companies. Before her current position, Susman held senior communications and leadership roles at Estée Lauder and American Express. Susman also pursued a career in government service focused on international trade issues.

Payal Sahni Becher

Chief People Experience Officer, Executive Vice President

Payal Sahni Becher is Pfizer’s current Chief People Experience Officer and Executive Vice President. Although she was appointed to these positions in June 2022, Becher has been part of Pfizer since 1997.

Earlier in her career, Becher joined Pfizer’s Human Resources Division. She developed the insight to lead H.R. strategies for Pfizer’s legal, corporate affairs, compliance, and chief business office business segments there. Additionally, Becher led several efforts instrumental in evolving Pfizer’s business structure and H.R. strategies for mergers and acquisitions.

William Pao, M.D., Ph.D.

Chief Development Officer, Executive Vice President

William Pao is one of Pfizer’s Executive Vice Presidents and the company’s current Chief Development Officer. Pao leads the clinical development, advancement, and research phase of Pfizer’s innovative medicines for immunology, oncology, internal medicine, anti-infectives, and portfolios for marketed vaccines and drugs.

Before his position at Pfizer, Pao led several research and development portfolios related to cancer, neuroscience, ophthalmology, immunology, rare blood disorders, and infectious diseases. Pao, a doctor by profession, has been recognized for his work in translational medicine and research on cancer therapeutics, cancer genomics, and personalized medicine.

Mike McDermott

Chief Global Supply Officer, Executive Vice President

Mike McDermott has been Pfizer’s Chief Global Supply Officer since January 2022. He leads the company’s supply chain and internal and external manufacturing activities.

McDermott has accumulated 30 years of experience at Pfizer Inc. He previously held managing director and vice presidential positions for several company operating units. He also became Vice President and President of Pfizer’s Global Supply team, where he managed and ensured the constant flow of supply and operations for Pfizer’s medicine portfolios.

Aamir Malik

Chief Business Innovation Officer, Executive Vice President

Aamir Malik assumed the roles of Executive Vice President and Chief Business Innovation Officer in September 2021. He is responsible for Pfizer’s business development, commercial development, portfolio management, pipeline prioritization, company strategy, and the creation of new business ventures.

Before joining Pfizer, Malik served as Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company’s operations and as leader of its Global Pharmaceutical and Medical Products Practice. Malik draws from his 25 years of experience working in pharmaceutical companies to effectively handle mergers and acquisitions, innovate growth strategies, and execute programs that transform life science and improve patients’ lives.

Doug Lankler

General Counsel, Executive Vice President

Doug Lankler has been part of Pfizer Inc. since 1999. He held numerous positions in the company’s Legal Division. He accumulated 15 years of work experience and helped establish Pfizer’s contract with the Department of Defense and Department of Human Health and Services for the worldwide distribution of 100 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Lankler is the current General Counsel of Pfizer Inc. Before his stints at the pharmaceutical company, Lankler served as an assistant attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice and Associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP litigation department.

Rady Johnson

Chief Compliance, Quality, and Risk Officer, Executive Vice President

Rady Johnson entered Pfizer Inc. in 1994 and is the Executive Vice President and Chief Compliance, Quality, and Risk Officer. He is responsible for Pfizer’s global compliance program, global security efforts, and other international security initiatives, such as the Regulatory Quality Assurance Organization and Office of the Ombuds.

Johnson held several legal and leadership positions under different business segments of Pfizer. An attorney and Certified Public Accountant, Johnson utilized his legal professions in leading the Regulatory Law practice group and the Corporate Regulatory and Healthcare Law Audit functions.

In 2015, Ethisphere Institute recognized Johnson as an Attorney Who Matters because he laid the groundwork for a corporate and industry-wide legacy of integrity and ethical practices.

Angela Hwang

Chief Commercial Officer, President, Global Biopharmaceuticals Business

Angela Hwang is the current Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and President of the Global Biopharmaceuticals Business of Pfizer Inc. Hwang is responsible for Pfizer’s commercial efforts that address major health priorities such as cancer, COVID-19, infectious diseases, rare diseases, immunology, primary care, and preventive care with vaccines.

Hwang has been with Pfizer for 26 years. Under her wing is an organization comprising 26,000 colleagues from 125 countries responsible for distributing over 600 innovative pharmaceutical products to patients worldwide.

Lidia Fonseca

Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Executive Vice President

Lidia Fonseca is the current Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Pfizer Inc. She leads the company’s digital, data, and technology products and solutions.

Fonseca’s tenure at Pfizer enabled her to spearhead drug discovery efforts, clinical development, manufacturing, improvement of operational processes via automation and robotics, and delivering powerful insights through data, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence for more efficient decision-making.

Mikael Dolsten, M.D., Ph.D.

Chief Scientific Officer and President, Worldwide Research, Development, and Medical

As Pfizer’s Chief Scientific Officer, Mikael Dolsten is responsible for developing strategies, safety, and medical support for all pipelined medicine and the scientific breakthroughs for vaccines, gene therapies, biotherapeutics, and small-molecule drugs.

Dolsten’s role as President of Worldwide Research, Development, and Medical organization entails him leading Pfizer’s development of compounds and providing pharmaceutical sciences, safety, and medical support to the company’s portfolio of medicines and vaccines.

Dave Denton

Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President

Dave Denton is one of Pfizer’s Executive Vice Presidents and the company’s current Chief Financial Officer (CFO). As CFO, Denton leads the company’s corporate finance functions, such as audit, tax, insurance, treasury, and corporate controllership. He also provides strategic global financial leadership.

Denton brings 20 years of experience working in the healthcare and financial fields. Part of his expertise stems from his previous work at Lowe’s Companies, Deloitte, and CVS Health.

(Above Executive Photos from Pfizer Official Website)

Pfizer Inc. Board of Directors

Listed below are the current members of Pfizer’s Board of Directors:

Dr. Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Ronald E. Blaylock
Susan Desmond-Hellmann, M.D., M.P.H
Joseph J. Echevarria
Scott Gottlieb, M.D.
Helen H. Hobbs, M.D.
Susan Hockfield, Ph.D.
Dan R. Littman, M.D., Ph.D.
Shantanu Narayen
Suzanne Nora Johnson
James Quincey
James C. Smith

About Pfizer Inc.

Logo from Pfizer Official Website

Where is Pfizer Inc.’s headquarters?

Pfizer Inc. is headquartered in Manhattan, New York, where it was founded in 1849. The pharmaceutical giant currently has 18 other offices across the United States.

Who founded Pfizer Inc.?

Pfizer Inc. was founded by Charles Pfizer and his cousin Charles Erhart. The two hailed from Ludwigsburg, Germany, and came to the United States to establish a company that initially specialized in producing chemical compounds.

What Is Pfizer’s Organizational Structure?

Pfizer Inc.’s organizational structure comprises executives, shareholders, a board of directors, managers, and subordinates. The company also has a team of doctors and scientists developing vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and research methods to treat and prevent various diseases.