Ian C. Read was the CEO of Pfizer Inc. from 2010 to 2018, where he played a huge role in expanding the company's global business. Under his leadership, Pfizer focused on linking executive pay to company performance, making sure that...

Ian C. Read was the CEO of Pfizer Inc. from 2010 to 2018, where he played a huge role in expanding the company's global business. Under his leadership, Pfizer focused on linking executive pay to company performance, making sure that top management profits only when the company does well. By 2019, Read owned 1.6 million shares of Pfizer worth around $46.5 million, a move that showed his commitment to the company and its shareholders. His compensation reflected this drive, with a total earnings package that surpassed $10 million in 2018, mostly from bonuses tied to Pfizer's revenue and profits. Before becoming CEO, Read joined Pfizer in 1978 and climbed the ranks, including serving as President of Worldwide Pharmaceutical Operations. After stepping down as CEO, he took on a consulting role to help with strategic projects, showing he was still invested in Pfizer's future. Overall, Read’s leadership style demonstrated a focus on results and accountability, contributing to Pfizer's success in the pharmaceutical industry.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Pfizer CEOs

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Ian C. Read

Ex-CEO of Pfizer

Education

Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Strathclyde and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Field of Expertise

Healthcare & Life Sciences - Pharmaceuticals

Sector of Economy

Healthcare

Born

March 21, 1954 - 71 years ago

CEO of Pfizer for

8 years 0 months (Dec 2010 - Dec 2018)

Previous Experience

Joined Pfizer in 1978, held various positions including President of Worldwide Pharmaceutical Operations.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Ian C. Read

G

Daniel O'Day

CEO of Gilead Sciences

2023 Compensation

Stock

$16.51M

Salary

$1.74M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$1.22M

Total Holdings

$103.20M

M

Robert M. Davis

CEO of Merck & Co.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$17.72M

Salary

$1.60M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$386.15K

Total Holdings

$5.80M

N

Stanley C. Erck

CEO of Novavax

2023 Compensation

Stock

$129.78K

Salary

$50.90K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$3.83M

Total Holdings

$675.12K

J

Joaquin Duato

CEO of Johnson & Johnson

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.58M

Bonus

$3.65M

Other

$241.99K

Total Holdings

$61.93M

M

Stéphane Bancel

CEO of Moderna

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.58M

Bonus

$1.91M

Other

$1.07M

Total Holdings

$491.74M

B

Christopher Boerner

CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.50M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$311.64K

Total Holdings

$22.05M

Holdings

See how much did Ian C. Read make over time.

As of 2019, Ian C. Read owned 1.6 million shares of Pfizer, valued at about $46.5 million. This significant holding showed his commitment to Pfizer's growth and demonstrated alignment with shareholder interests. Throughout his tenure, he maintained a substantial stake...

As of 2019, Ian C. Read owned 1.6 million shares of Pfizer, valued at about $46.5 million. This significant holding showed his commitment to Pfizer's growth and demonstrated alignment with shareholder interests. Throughout his tenure, he maintained a substantial stake in the company, reflecting his confidence in its future. His wealth from holdings fluctuated based on Pfizer's market performance, emphasizing his focus on long-term value. Read’s ownership peaked when he had over $46 million in stock, underscoring the value he placed on performance-based success. It was a strategic decision that mirrored his approach to executive compensation, where he also focused on performance metrics, ensuring that executive profits correlate with company success. Overall, Read’s stock holdings were a testament to his dedication to Pfizer’s growth and success.

Mar 18, 2025

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shares

PFE @ $26.31

V

shares

VTRS @ $NaN

Total Stock Sold

$79.57M

PFE

$79.57M

2,311,949 PFE shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Ian C. Read didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra PFE2,311,949 shares worth $81.82M.
This is 2.82% and $2.25M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

PFE

7,460 shares

PFE

Recent Charitable Transactions

PFE

7,460 shares

PFE

Dec 14, 2017

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Ian C. Read.

PFE

$22.96M

PFE at $43.31/share

Mar 4, 2019

Sale

PFE

$2.20M

PFE at $43.26/share

Mar 4, 2019

Sale

PFE

347,327 shares

PFE

Feb 27, 2019

Received

PFE

$18.21M

PFE at $37.42/share

Jul 16, 2018

Sale

PFE

$4.77M

PFE at $36.03/share

May 1, 2018

Sale

PFE

286,952 shares

PFE

Feb 26, 2018

Received

PFE

7,460 shares

PFE

Dec 14, 2017

Charity

PFE

$6.70M

PFE at $34.00/share

Aug 31, 2017

Sale

PFE

$3.30M

PFE at $34.00/share

Aug 4, 2017

Sale

PFE

110,011 shares

PFE

Feb 27, 2017

Received

Compensation History

See how much did Ian C. Read make over time.

Ian C. Read's compensation package was impressive and tied directly to Pfizer's financial success. In 2018, he earned over $10 million, which included a base salary of $2 million and a bonus of $3 million based on performance metrics like revenue growth and cash flow. His pay structure was designed to reflect his responsibilities as CEO and to align closely with the company’s performance. The compensation philosophy emphasized that a significant part of executive pay should be at risk and directly correlated to the company’s success. This made sense within Pfizer, where Read was focused on increasing shareholder value. Additionally, Read had other benefits that included financial counseling and personal use of company aircraft, which added to his overall package. His commitment to results was clear in how his earnings were structured, aligning with his strategy of driving growth and accountability in the company.

Year

2018

Total Compensation

$5.67M

Salary

$2.00M

Board Justification

Pfizer's compensation philosophy is designed to align executive pay with performance, ensuring that a significant portion of total compensation is at risk and tied to the company's financial and operational success.

Bonus

$3.00M

Board Justification

The annual incentive award for 2018 was based on performance metrics including revenue, adjusted diluted EPS, and cash flow from operations, with a total payout of $3,000,000.

Other

$671.85K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes perquisites such as financial counseling, home security, and personal use of company aircraft.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 TSRUs)

Board Justification

No stock awards vested in 2018 as the focus is on the performance share awards and stock options that are not included in the total compensation calculation.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for determining Ian Read's compensation included total revenue, adjusted diluted EPS, and cash flow from operations.

Other Pfizer CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Pfizer

Jeffrey B. Kindler

Ex-CEO of Pfizer

July 2006 - December 2010

Albert Bourla

CEO of Pfizer

January 2019 - Present