Executive Leadership
Dr. Albert Bourla
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Albert Bourla leads Pfizer in its purpose, “Breakthroughs that change patients’ lives,” with a focus on driving the scientific and commercial innovation needed to transform human health.
During his more than 30 years at Pfizer, Albert held senior management positions in five countries and across a range of markets and disciplines. The global nature of his work has enhanced his understanding of healthcare systems and patient needs, while deepening his commitment to innovation.
After taking on the role of CEO in January 2019, he accelerated Pfizer’s transformation to become a more science-driven company – divesting its non-science-based businesses and increasing its R&D and technology budgets. To create a culture where the company’s people and science thrive, Albert and his leadership team established Pfizer’s Purpose Blueprint, which includes four core values: Courage, Excellence, Equity, and Joy.
A powerful example of Pfizer’s capabilities and culture was seen in the company’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Refusing to accept public funding and instead investing more than $2 billion dollars at-risk, Albert inspired colleagues to deliver a safe and effective vaccine in just eight months – a process that typically takes 8-10 years – without compromising quality or integrity. A year later, continuing to move at the speed of science, Pfizer delivered the first FDA-authorized oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19 by implementing the same sense of urgency and new ways of working that had made the vaccine program so successful. The company now applies many of these principles to projects across four therapeutic areas, including cancer, internal medicine, inflammation and immunology, and vaccines.
Under Albert’s leadership, Pfizer is one of the world’s leading companies in the effort to change the trajectory of cancer care, with a robust pipeline poised to deliver several cancer breakthroughs by 2030. The company is also embracing new, cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, which profoundly impacts drug discovery, clinical trials and manufacturing.
Albert is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and holds a Ph.D. in the Biotechnology of Reproduction from the Veterinary School of Aristotle University. He is a Genesis Prize Laureate and received the American Association of Cancer Research’s Outstanding Achievement Award for Service to Cancer Science and Medicine; the Courage Against Hate Award from the Anti-Defamation League; and the Concordia Leadership Award; among others. He was named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful People in Business, Time’s 100 Most Influential People in Health, CEO of the Year by CNN Business, and inducted into the Crain’s New York Business Hall of Fame.
He is Chair of the Board of Directors for both the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and the Pfizer Foundation, and Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Partnership for New York City. He previously served as the President of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA).
Albert can be found on X at @AlbertBourla and on LinkedIn.
Other People In Executive Leadership
Lindsay Havern
Senior Vice President of Executive Operations and Chief of Staff and Counsel to the Chairman and CEO
Executive Leadership
Dr. Albert Bourla
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Albert Bourla leads Pfizer in its purpose, “Breakthroughs that change patients’ lives,” with a focus on driving the scientific and commercial innovation needed to transform human health.
During his more than 30 years at Pfizer, Albert held senior management positions in five countries and across a range of markets and disciplines. The global nature of his work has enhanced his understanding of healthcare systems and patient needs, while deepening his commitment to innovation.
After taking on the role of CEO in January 2019, he accelerated Pfizer’s transformation to become a more science-driven company – divesting its non-science-based businesses and increasing its R&D and technology budgets. To create a culture where the company’s people and science thrive, Albert and his leadership team established Pfizer’s Purpose Blueprint, which includes four core values: Courage, Excellence, Equity, and Joy.
A powerful example of Pfizer’s capabilities and culture was seen in the company’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Refusing to accept public funding and instead investing more than $2 billion dollars at-risk, Albert inspired colleagues to deliver a safe and effective vaccine in just eight months – a process that typically takes 8-10 years – without compromising quality or integrity. A year later, continuing to move at the speed of science, Pfizer delivered the first FDA-authorized oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19 by implementing the same sense of urgency and new ways of working that had made the vaccine program so successful. The company now applies many of these principles to projects across four therapeutic areas, including cancer, internal medicine, inflammation and immunology, and vaccines.
Under Albert’s leadership, Pfizer is one of the world’s leading companies in the effort to change the trajectory of cancer care, with a robust pipeline poised to deliver several cancer breakthroughs by 2030. The company is also embracing new, cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, which profoundly impacts drug discovery, clinical trials and manufacturing.
Albert is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and holds a Ph.D. in the Biotechnology of Reproduction from the Veterinary School of Aristotle University. He is a Genesis Prize Laureate and received the American Association of Cancer Research’s Outstanding Achievement Award for Service to Cancer Science and Medicine; the Courage Against Hate Award from the Anti-Defamation League; and the Concordia Leadership Award; among others. He was named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful People in Business, Time’s 100 Most Influential People in Health, CEO of the Year by CNN Business, and inducted into the Crain’s New York Business Hall of Fame.
He is Chair of the Board of Directors for both the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and the Pfizer Foundation, and Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Partnership for New York City. He previously served as the President of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA).
Albert can be found on X at @AlbertBourla and on LinkedIn.
Other People In Executive Leadership
Lindsay Havern
Senior Vice President of Executive Operations and Chief of Staff and Counsel to the Chairman and CEO