BMS’ CEO To Retire; New CEO Named

Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) has announced that Giovanni Caforio, MD, the company’s Chairman of the Board and CEO, has decided to retire as CEO, effective November 1, 2023. After November 1, 2023, Caforio will continue to serve as Executive Chairman for a transition period to be determined by the company’s Board of Directors. Christopher Boerner, PhD, currently Executive Vice President and Chief Commercialization Officer of BMS, has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately (as reported on April 26, 2023) and will succeed Caforio as CEO on November 1, 2023.  

The company’s Board also intends to appoint Boerner as a member of the Board after the company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Adam Lenkowsky, currently Senior Vice President and Head of Major Markets at BSM, will succeed Boerner as Executive Vice President and  Chief Commercialization Officer, effective immediately (as reported on April 26, 2023).  

Boerner has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercialization Officer since August 2018, where he has led the worldwide Commercial and Medical organizations with responsibility for driving growth across the company’s key franchises. Boerner previously served as Head of International Markets at BMS, accountable for international commercial activities. Prior to that, he served as Head of US commercial markets, responsible for US sales and marketing, government affairs, and market access. He joined the company in February 2015. 

From 2010 to 2015, Boerner served in leadership roles of increasing responsibility at Seattle Genetics (now Seagen), a Bothell, Washington-based bio/pharmaceutical company specializing in antibody drug conjugates. From 2002 to 2010, he served in marketing leadership roles at Roche’s Genentech, with a focus on strategy, development and commercialization across multiple oncology and immunology products. Earlier in his career, Boerner worked for McKinsey & Company for global pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients. 

Source: Bristol Myers Squibb