Albert Bourla (born October 21, 1961) is a Greek-American executive and veterinarian who serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. Bourla is widely recognized for his leadership of Pfizer during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he oversaw the development and rapid distribution of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece, Bourla grew up in a close-knit Sephardic Jewish family. His parents were among the few survivors of the Holocaust in Thessaloniki, a personal history that he has stated profoundly shaped his worldview and commitment to preserving life. He pursued his higher education in his home city, earning a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and a PhD in the biotechnology of reproduction from the Veterinary School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Bourla began his career at Pfizer in 1993, initially joining the company’s Animal Health division as a technical director in Greece. Over the following three decades, he rose through the ranks of the organization, holding diverse leadership positions in various markets and across multiple business disciplines, including animal health, vaccines, oncology, and consumer healthcare. His career path took him across five continents and nine different cities, an international experience he credits with deepening his understanding of global healthcare systems and patient needs. Before assuming the top leadership role, Bourla served as Pfizer’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) starting in January 2018, where he managed the company’s commercial strategy, manufacturing, and global product development. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2019, succeeding Ian Read. Under his tenure, Bourla initiated a significant organizational transformation, shifting Pfizer’s focus toward becoming a more research-driven, innovative biopharmaceutical company. This strategy involved divesting non-science-based business units and increasing investments in research and development (R&D). Bourla gained international prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his guidance, Pfizer launched “Project Lightspeed,” a massive collaborative effort to develop a vaccine using mRNA technology in partnership with the German biotechnology firm BioNTech. The resulting vaccine, Comirnaty, received emergency use authorization in record time. Bourla’s leadership during this period was marked by the decision to invest billions of dollars at-risk to accelerate production and clinical trials. For his contributions to the global response to the pandemic, he was named CEO of the Year by CNN Business in 2021 and received the 2022 Genesis Prize. In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Bourla serves on several boards, including the Pfizer Foundation, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), and the Partnership for New York City. He is a member of the Business Roundtable and the Council on Foreign Relations. Bourla is married to Myriam Alchanati, and the couple resides in Scarsdale, New York. They have two children. Throughout his career, Bourla has remained a proponent of the pharmaceutical industry's role in driving medical innovation, often advocating for a robust, science-led approach to solving the world’s most significant health challenges.