WMU News

Pharmacia chief is next speaker in Haworth series

March 13, 2001

KALAMAZOO -- Fred Hassan, chairman and chief executive officer of Pharmacia Corp., will speak at Western Michigan University Thursday, March 22, as part of the Haworth College of Business Distinguished Speaker Series. Admission to lectures in the series is by invitation only.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Brown Auditorium of Schneider Hall, Hassan will discuss "Behavior-Based Management in Global Business: Building Trust, Building Growth," outlining his vision for attaining success in our global economy.

Hassan has served as chairman and CEO of Pharmacia since January. He joined that company's predecessor, Pharmacia & Upjohn, in 1997 as president and CEO, retaining that position when the company merged with Monsanto last year.

After earning his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the Imperial College of Science and Technology at the University of London, Hassan went on to obtain an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1972. He has accumulated more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, rising through the ranks of such organizations as Sandoz Pharmaceuticals (now Novartis) and American Home Products.

In 1999, the Financial Times named Hassan CEO of the Year in the global pharmaceutical industry "for his significant advancements in corporate transformation, strategic vision, management style and innovative strategies." He is a member of the boards of directors of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the Healthcare Institute of New Jersey, and Avon Products.

The Distinguished Speaker Series, now in its fifth year, brings business, education and government leaders to campus to discuss a variety of topics of interest to the University and Southwest Michigan. Business and community leaders from Southwest Michigan, as well as WMU faculty, staff and students, attend the events. Dr. Christopher M. Korth, WMU professor of finance and commercial law, is founder and chairman of the series.

Media contact: Jessica English, 616 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu


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