Pfizer

William Ringo has been named senior vice president of strategy and business development, Pfizer. He will be responsible for guiding the company’s overall strategic planning and business development activities, reporting to chairman and chief executive officer, Jeff Kindler. He will also join Pfizer’s executive leadership team.
   
Mr. Ringo is a senior corporate biopharmaceutical executive with extensive worldwide experience in sales, marketing, business and strategic planning, product development and general management. He currently serves as an executive in residence at Warburg Pincus and Sofinnova Ventures, as well as an active board member of Intermune, Inc.
   
From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Ringo was chief executive officer of Abgenix, Inc., where he spearheaded efforts to create a more focused product company by strengthening the senior management team and enhancing its partnership with Amgen. Soon after, Amgen acquired Abgenix for $2.2 billion—more than double the company’s value when Mr. Ringo joined the company in 2004.
   
Prior to Abgenix, Mr. Ringo served on various boards and was involved with Intermune, where he was appointed interim chief executive officer to help restructure the company and recruit new operational leadership. Mr. Ringo began his career at Eli Lilly & Co. in 1973, where he served in various sales, marketing, strategy and general management roles. He also served as president of two major business units for Lilly, including substantial exposure to its medical device, technology, and pharmaceutical businesses.  
   
“Bill is a highly regarded leader who distinguished himself through a long career as one of the most successful senior executives at Eli Lilly & Company,” Mr. Kindler said. “Bill’s broad range of experience in both the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors make him uniquely qualified to guide our strategy and business development and to help drive the innovation agenda that is one of the keys to our future success.”
   
“I am delighted and honored at the opportunity to join Jeff and his leadership team as they continue to transform Pfizer to meet the challenges of the future,” Mr. Ringo said. “I believe Pfizer has a productive future and I look forward to working with a diverse and talented group of professionals.”