NEW YORK — Pfizer Inc. has named Garry A. Nicholson as senior vice president, general manager of the company’s newly created Oncology Business Unit, reporting to Ian Read, president of Pfizer Worldwide Pharmaceutical Operations.
Nicholson will serve as head of Pfizer's oncology franchise, with direct responsibility for clinical development, medical affairs, commercial development, sales and marketing.
Nicholson is a senior pharmaceutical executive with extensive experience in product development, marketing, sales and general management on a worldwide basis.
Nicholson joins Pfizer from Eli Lilly and Co., where he spent more than 10 years as executive director of the U.S. Oncology Business Unit and subsequently in an expanded role as Global Oncology Platform Leader. In the latter role, Nicholson was responsible for the global oncology franchise, including the oncology therapeutic area strategy, portfolio management, Phase II/III development, global integration of oncology medical and marketing strategies, regulatory submissions and approvals, and licensing and partnerships. In addition, Nicholson was directly accountable for the company’s oncology drug development budget and review of country and regional forecasts and income statements. He also played a key leadership role in business development and licensing initiatives in oncology. Under Nicholson’s leadership, Lilly’s global oncology sales exceeded $2.5 billion in 2007.
From 2004 to 2005, Nicholson was the executive director of the Corporate Six Sigma Task force, where he was responsible for driving significant operational improvements across Lilly’s entire business. Nicholson recruited and deployed Six Sigma team participants and led implementation efforts for the Sales, Marketing and Medical Affairs teams in all Lilly geographies.
Nicholson has a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and an MBA from the University of South Carolina, Columbia.
Founded in 1849, Pfizer is the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company.