John LaMattina - President, Pfizer Global Research & Development, Pfizer Inc

John LaMattinaThe pharmaceuticals industry has been one in which women flourished at every level. In particular, Pfizer Inc, one of the world’s most recognizable and respected brands, has been a leader in global workplace diversity, as well as a longtime and steadfast friend to Legal Momentum. Pfizer executives have stepped up to the podium as recipients of the Equal Opportunity Award twice before, but this year, we are truly honored to -recognize one of our country’s most admired scientists and -executives, Dr. John L. LaMattina, Senior Vice President, Pfizer Inc, and President, Pfizer Global Research and Development.
In his current role, John oversees the drug discovery and development efforts of over 12,000 colleagues in the United States, Europe and Asia. His research has involved seeking new therapeutic agents for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and asthma. He is the author of 23 scientific publications and holds 15 U.S. patents.
Global workforce diversity is a priority at Pfizer, where 32 percent of the manager and senior manager-level positions are held by women, and women comprise 27 percent of the corporate executive roles.
Pfizer also show its deep commitment to families through state of the art, on-site or near-site child care centers, and a host of child care options, which serve close to 800 children. An additional 355 Pfizer colleague children benefited last year from sponsored In-Home Childcare and 570 from Backup Childcare.
Pfizer’s Manhattan Headquarters boasts an on-site, full-time back-up center. To help new parents transition back to work following parental leave, this center also provides up to five weeks full-time infant care for returning parents. Employees who have taken a leave of absence to care for a newborn or child placed with them for adoption or foster care can return to full-time work at Pfizer gradually through its phased return policy. Phased return assists them in adjusting to the new demands and lifestyle changes associated with becoming a parent.
Since joining Pfizer in 1977 in Groton, Connecticut, John held positions of increasing responsibility within Pfizer Central Research before assuming his present responsibilities. A cum laude graduate of Boston College, with a B.S. in Chemistry, he is also a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, and has served as a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellow at Princeton University. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire in 2007.
John is on the Board of Trustees of Boston College and the Board of Trustees of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. His history of service to his community includes roles as President of the Ledyard Soccer Club, Vice President of the Board of -Trustees for the Science Center of Eastern Connecticut and a member of the Board of Trustees for Summer Music.
John lives in Stonington, Connecticut, with his wife, Mary. They are the parents of three children.