Karen Katen
Senior Advisor, New York- B.A.
- University of Chicago
- M.B.A.
- University of Chicago
Karen Katen has over 30 years of experience in senior executive level positions within the pharmaceutical industry. Ms. Katen retired as Vice Chairman of Pfizer, Inc. and as President of Pfizer Human Health in 2007 after a career at Pfizer, Inc. that spanned 33 years. Pfizer Human Health is the company’s principal operating group, responsible for the discovery, development, manufacture, distribution and commercialization of prescription medicines, as well as for providing a broad array of innovative human-health services.
Ms. Katen is a director on the boards of the Harris Corporation, The Home Depot, and Air Liquide, and she is a member of the Takeda Global Advisory Board. She also serves on the Catalyst Board, the RAND Corporation’s Health Board of Advisors, ARMGO Pharmaceutical’s Board and the Economic Club of New York Board of Trustees. She previously served as Chairman of the Pfizer Foundation. Ms. Katen is a University Trustee and a council member of the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago.
Ms. Katen’s achievements have received wide recognition. In 2005, Ms. Katen was named among the top ten in Fortune Magazine’s ranking of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Business,” a list which included her for eight consecutive years. For her commitment to community and improving public health, she received eleven distinct “Woman of the Year” or similar awards from civic groups, national associations and universities.
Ms. Katen joined Essex Woodlands as a Senior Advisor based in the New York office in October 2007.