John D. Young, Board member

John D. Young

Board member since March 2023

Nationality: British/American | Year of birth: 1964

A scientist by training, John D. Young has over 35 years of experience in the healthcare industry and brings a wealth of experience in leadership, strategy, business development and commercialization of innovative medicines to the Novartis Board of Directors. He joined Pfizer in 1987 as a sales representative and held positions of increasing seniority across the company, including as a member of Pfizer’s executive leadership team for a decade. As Pfizer’s group president and chief business officer from 2019 until 2022, Mr. Young also played an integral role in the development and delivery of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Professional experience

  • Senior advisor to the CEO, Pfizer, US (January-June 2022)
  • Group president and chief business officer, Pfizer, US (2019-2022)
  • Group president, innovative health business, Pfizer, US (2018)
  • Group president, essential health business, Pfizer, US (2014-2017)
  • President and general manager, global primary care business unit, Pfizer, US (2012-2013)
  • Regional president, primary care business unit for Europe and Canada, Pfizer, UK (2009-2012)
  • Various managerial positions, Pfizer, UK and Australia (1987–2008)

Mandates

  • Board member, Johnson Controls International, Ireland
  • Board member, Arvinas Inc, US
  • Board member, Imbria Pharmaceuticals, US (2022-2024)
  • Board member, Haleon, UK (2022-February 2023)
  • Board member, GSK Consumer Health Joint Venture, UK (2019-2022)
  • Board member, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), US (2018-2021)
  • US bio-pharmaceutical representative, UK Government Life Sciences Council, UK (2007-2021)
  • Board member, National Committee for US China Relations, US (2014-2017)
  • Board member, European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), Belgium (2012-2017)

Education

  • Master of business administration, University of Strathclyde, UK
  • Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, University of Glasgow, UK

Key skills

  • Medicine/healthcare/R&D
  • Leadership/management
  • Finance/accounting
  • Law/regulatory/risk management