Kevin Sharer
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| Kevin Sharer | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kevin Sharer |
| Birth date | 1948 |
| Occupation | Business executive, author |
| Known for | CEO of Amgen (2000–2012) |
| Alma mater | United States Naval Academy, Harvard Business School |
Kevin Sharer is an American businessman and author known for leading Amgen as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman during the early 21st century. He is a former officer of the United States Navy who transitioned to management consulting and biotechnology, and has been active on corporate boards and in philanthropic initiatives. Sharer has also contributed to leadership literature and governance at academic and civic institutions.
Early life and education
Sharer was born in 1948 and attended the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy. After service in the Navy, he attended Harvard Business School, earning a Master of Business Administration. His early background links him to institutions such as Annapolis, Maryland through the Naval Academy and to the Boston academic and business community via Harvard.
Business career
After completing his MBA, Sharer joined McKinsey & Company as a management consultant, where he advised clients in technology and life sciences sectors. He moved to MCI Communications and later to Amgen, advancing through operations, finance, and corporate strategy roles. Over decades Sharer became associated with major biotechnology and pharmaceutical enterprises, interacting with companies such as Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Biogen, Pfizer, Roche, Novartis, Merck & Co., Eli Lilly and Company, Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AbbVie, Celgene, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Allergan, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Bayer, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, AstraZeneca, Shire, and Sandoz through executive collaboration, licensing, and industry associations.
Leadership at Amgen
As CEO and later Chairman of Amgen from 2000 to 2012, Sharer oversaw strategic initiatives in biologics, manufacturing, and global expansion. Under his tenure, Amgen developed and launched products addressing hematology and oncology markets, working with regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and engaging with payers and providers including Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and major hospital systems like Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. He navigated Amgen through patent litigation and intellectual property disputes involving firms such as Sandoz and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, pursued acquisitions and partnerships with companies including KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals and Immunex, and invested in manufacturing facilities in locations tied to global supply networks like Thousand Oaks, California and international markets including Europe and Asia. Sharer emphasized operational excellence, quality systems, and talent development, reflecting practices familiar in Lean manufacturing implementations at firms such as Toyota Motor Corporation and process standards influenced by industry consortia like the Biotechnology Innovation Organization.
Board memberships and advisory roles
Following executive leadership, Sharer served on corporate boards and advisory councils across industries. He has held directorships or advisory roles at companies and institutions including Costco Wholesale Corporation, H. Lundbeck A/S, Qualcomm, H.J. Heinz Company, Amgen Foundation, Stanford University advisory groups, Harvard Business School alumni and governance bodies, and nonprofit organizations such as United Way. He has engaged with government and policy forums, interfacing with entities like the United States Congress committees on health and trade, collaborating with research centers including Broad Institute and Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and participating in venture and private equity networks connected to Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins, and Blackstone Group investment activities.
Philanthropy and community involvement
Sharer has supported educational, healthcare, and community initiatives, contributing to scholarship programs, research funding, and institutional endowments at United States Naval Academy and Harvard Business School. He has been involved with charitable organizations and foundations addressing medical research and patient support, interacting with groups such as American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, March of Dimes, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and regional nonprofit efforts. His philanthropy has included support for STEM education and veterans’ services tied to organizations like Wounded Warrior Project and alumni networks across military and business communities.
Personal life and honors
Sharer is married and has maintained ties to communities in California and Massachusetts. He has been recognized with industry honors and corporate awards reflecting leadership in biotechnology and corporate governance, and has contributed writing on management and leadership in publications associated with Harvard Business Review and business schools. Honors and affiliations include membership in professional orders and recognition by institutions such as National Academy of Medicine-adjacent forums and business leadership programs at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford Graduate School of Business.