PRESS INQUIRIES
Natasha Avanessians
[email protected]
Today, the Partnership for New York City announced the election of Dr. Albert Bourla, CEO and chairman of Pfizer, as co-chair of its Board of Directors, succeeding Steven Swartz, president and CEO of Hearst. Dr. Bourla joins co-chair Rob Speyer, president and CEO of Tishman Speyer.
Dr. Bourla is CEO and chairman of Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation headquartered in New York City. Dr. Bourla previously served on the Partnership for New York City’s executive committee. He is currently a vice president of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations, a director on multiple boards—Pfizer Inc., The Pfizer Foundation, PhRMA and Catalyst—and a trustee of the United States Council for International Business. In addition, Dr. Bourla is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Business Roundtable, and the Business Council.
Dr. Bourla’s election took place at the Partnership’s annual meeting, where the organization elected its leadership for 2023 and welcomed Governor Kathy Hochul as the guest speaker. More than 300 corporate CEOs and senior executives were present and discussed priorities for 2023, including support for the public safety and mental health initiatives that have been put forward by the governor and mayor. Data was shared regarding an outreach program connecting unsheltered homeless individuals with housing and services that the Partnership has established with nonprofit Breaking Ground.
“We look forward to benefiting from Dr. Bourla’s experience as the leader of the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, headquartered in the city, which brought us the first vaccine and therapeutic treatments for COVID-19,” said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City. “We also thank Steve Swartz for his role as a co-chair of the Partnership during a period when the city and business community faced unprecedented challenges.”
“I am excited to partner with Rob Speyer and all members of the Partnership to bring more opportunity to this great city so we continue to thrive as a center of innovation, business and culture,” said Dr. Albert Bourla, CEO and chairman of Pfizer. “The pandemic showed us the value of collaboration between the public and the private sector. When we work together, there is so much more that we can accomplish.”
Partnership co-chair Rob Speyer, CEO of Tishman Speyer said, “Albert will be a tremendous asset to the Partnership, our members and our City. He has driven Pfizer’s global impact, while also working tirelessly to advance New York. I am grateful for Steve Swartz’s leadership these past three years, and extend my thanks to him on behalf of all our members.”
“The Partnership has a lot to be proud of and a lot more work left to do, and I look forward to working with our new leadership team of co-chairmen Albert Bourla and Rob Speyer and our outstanding CEO Kathy Wylde,” said Steven R. Swartz, president and CEO of Hearst.