Karen Katen, president of Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals and one of the country's most highly respected businesspeople, will deliver Fairfield University's annual Charles F. Dolan Lecture on Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. The lecture, which will take place at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, is free and open to the public, but reservations are required.

Katen joined Pfizer, the international healthcare company, in 1974, and has distinguished herself as a visionary in her field. In addition to her presidential post, she is executive vice president of Pfizer Inc., and a member of the Pfizer Leadership Team, which is the governing management body of the company.

When asked about her long-standing commitment to Pfizer, Katen told the Wall Street Journal, "I've never been bored."

As head of Pfizer's principal operating division, Katen leads the top organization in the industry with 50,000 employees around the world, annual revenue of about $29 billion and several of the world's 25 top-selling pharmaceutical products. She has been involved with marketing many new products, including Viagra, which combats impotence, and Lipitor, which helps lower cholesterol. Katen has consistently been named one of the Fortune Magazine's "50 Most Powerful Women in Business," ranking number six in the 2003 ratings. Business Week Magazine's annual ranking has named Katen one of the "25 Top Executives" and she has received 10 separate "Woman of the Year" or similar awards from civic groups, national associations and universities.

In July, the American Women's Economic Development Corporation recognized Katen with its Business Leadership Award. During the same month, the Catholic Health Care Foundation of the Archdiocese of New York presented its John A. Coleman Panis Vitae Award to Katen.

Dr. Norman Solomon, dean of the Dolan School of Business, called Katen "one of the most outstanding businesspersons on the global scene today," noting her appearance at Fairfield University recognizes the Dolan School as a leader in collegiate business education.

In addition to her duties at Pfizer, Katen is on the boards of the General Motors Corporation and the Harris Corporation, and she serves on the international council of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. She is a member of the Council for the United States and Italy, and an appointee to the 2003 U.S.-Japan Private Sector/Government Commission and the National Infrastructure Advisory Committee, which makes recommendations to the Department of Homeland Security on policy changes to protect the U.S. infrastructure.

Katen began her career at Pfizer, after receiving her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Chicago. She rose rapidly through a series of marketing and general management positions. During the 1990s, she brought 10 innovative pharmaceuticals to the U.S. market. With the acquisition of Warner Lambert in 2000 and Pharmacia in 2003, she managed the largest integrations in the industry's history. As a result of the acquisitions and internal growth, the Global Pharmaceutical Group posted about $43 billion revenues in 2003, up nearly nine times from 1993.

The Charles F. Dolan Lecture series, featuring highly accomplished, visionary and internationally recognized business leaders, was inaugurated in 2001 with Jack Welch, then-chairman and chief executive of General Electric. C. Michael Armstrong, then-chairman and chief executive of AT&T, delivered the second Dolan Lecture in 2002, and Alan "Ace" Greenberg, chairman of the Executive Committee of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc., delivered the 2003 lecture.

To reserve seats for Katen's Dolan Lecture, call the Quick Center box office at (203) 254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396.

Posted On: 10-10-2004 10:10 AM

Volume: 37 Number: 75