Overview
Peter Dolan is the former CEO and Chairman of Bristol-Myers Squibb. In addition to his leadership experience in pharmaceuticals and technology, he is an accomplished director and has been mentoring Fortune 100 C-suite executives for the past four years. He has been a direct participant in five large-institution CEO successions.
Career History
Dolan currently serves on the board of Aveta Biomics, a private company focused on pharmaceuticals for cancer treatment. Previously, Dolan served as Chairman of Allied Minds, an innovation company that forms, funds, manages and builds startups based on early-stage technology. Dolan also served on the board of Gemin X, a venture backed startup oncology company. He later served as its CEO and Chairman, and successfully led through its sale to Cephalon Pharmaceuticals.
As CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dolan led the acquisition of DuPont Pharmaceuticals, which brought Eliquis to the company, and by 2019, Eliquis was the second largest drug in global industry annual prescription drug revenue. In 2001, the successful investment in Imclone’s Erbitux successfully bolstered Bristol-Myers Squibb’s oncology business until the introductions of blockbusters Sprycel and Yervoy. Ushering the company into biologics, in 2004 Dolan licensed the immuno-oncology compound that became Yervoy, named the Biotech Discovery of the Decade in 2016 for extending survival in some of the hardest to treat forms of cancer. In 2006, he strengthened the company’s commitment to biologics with the largest capital investment in the company’s history to build the first Bristol-Myers Squibb biologics manufacturing facility.
Prior to becoming CEO, Dolan led Bristol’s Consumer Products, Nutritionals, and Medical Device businesses. Dolan began his career at General Foods, where he rose through the ranks of product management and ultimately served in the role of category manager.
Dolan is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Tufts University. He was elected Chair in 2013, having served on the Tufts Board since 2001. He was also appointed Chairman of the Board of the Partnership for A Healthier America in 2020 and served on its board since 2010. Throughout his career, Dolan has served on the boards of multiple for-profits and not-for-profits, including the American Express Company, ChildObesity180 (as Chairman) and the Tuck School Board of Overseers.
Personal
Dolan received his B.A. and graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University. He then earned an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Dolan and his wife split their time between Colorado and Rhode Island.