Bristol-Myers Squibb has appointed three independent directors to its board, temporarily expanding its membership until the firm’s annual meeting elections on 2 May.
Robert Bertolini brings strategic and operational leadership experience from Bausch & Lomb, where he recently served as president and chief financial officer prior to the company’s sale to Valeant.
He also brings expertise from Schering-Plough, where he was executive vice president and chief financial officer, and over 20 years of corporate finance experience from PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Meanwhile, Matthew Emmens and Theodore Samuels also join the pharma firm’s board of directors.
Since beginning his pharmaceutical career 40 years ago, Emmens has served as president, chief executive officer and chairman of Vertex Pharma, chief executive and chairman at Shire, president of Merck KGaA’s pharmaceutical division, and president and chief executive of AstraZeneca and Merck & Co’s joint venture, Astra Merck.
Samuels also brings considerable business and operational experience to the position, with a particular expertise in economics, capital markets and investment decision-making.
He currently serves as a director at Perrigo Company and Stamps.com, and is the former president of Capital Guardian Trust Company, and global equity portfolio manager at Capital Group.
Lamberto Andreotti, chairman of the board at BMS, said: “I am pleased to welcome Bob, Matt and Ted to the board, and know that their unique skill sets and experience will be invaluable to the company going forward.
“As I announced in December, I will be retiring as chairman, effective 2 May 2017. I am happy to be leaving with such a strong board in place and am confident Bristol-Myers Squibb has a bright future.”