Jim Cornelius is an accomplished global biopharmaceutical leader, with past board and leadership roles at Bristol Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly, as well as a recognized venture investor and philanthropist.
Mr. Cornelius served as Chairman of the Board of Mead Johnson Nutrition (MJN) from December 2009 to June 2017, when MJN was acquired by Reckitt Benckiser for $16 billion. Previously, he served as Chairman of the Board of Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) from February 2008 to May 2015, and also held the title Chief Executive Officer from September 2006 to March 2010. BMY completed a successful transformation into a leading specialty biopharmaceutical enterprise during that time.
Mr. Cornelius served as Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Guidant (GDT) from November 2005 to April 2006, when it was acquired by Boston Scientific (BSX) for $27 billion. Previously, he was executive Chairman of the Board of Guidant and its senior executive starting from September 1994 when the Company was formed within Eli Lilly (LLY). Mr. Cornelius was a member of LLY’s Board of Directors and its Chief Financial Officer from 1983 until 1995.
In addition, he has served on the Board of Directors of a dozen private and public companies, including The Chubb Corporation, The DIRECTV Group and Given Imaging. Mr. Cornelius is currently Chairman of Cornelius Family Foundation and Cornelius Private Investments. He earned a B.A. magna cum laude and M.B.A. from Michigan State University.