Heather Bresch

Date of Birth: June 27, 1969

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Biography

Heather Bresch, born Heather Manchin, is a prominent American businesswoman best known for her tenure as the CEO of Mylan, a global pharmaceutical company. Born into a politically active family, she is the daughter of former West Virginia Governor and U.S. Senator Joe Manchin. Bresch joined Mylan in 1992 as a data entry clerk and steadily climbed the corporate ladder. She held various roles in the company, including Director of Government Relations, Head of North American Operations, and Chief Operating Officer, before being appointed CEO in 2012. Under her leadership, Mylan expanded its global footprint and diversified its product portfolio, although her tenure was also marked by controversies, including the significant price hike of the EpiPen. Bresch retired from Mylan in 2020 following the company’s merger with Upjohn.

5 Interesting Facts about Heather Bresch

1. Heather Bresch was the first female CEO of a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company.

2. She holds an MBA from West Virginia University, although the degree’s legitimacy was questioned in a scandal involving the university.

3. Bresch was instrumental in Mylan’s acquisition of Abbott Laboratories’ non-U.S. developed markets specialty and branded generics business in 2015.

4. Under her leadership, Mylan launched the first generic version of the EpiPen in response to public outrage over price increases.

5. She has been a vocal advocate for pharmaceutical industry reform and has testified before Congress on issues related to drug pricing.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Heather Bresch

1. “I think our industry needs to do better about being transparent and being honest about the challenges we face.”

2. “Every day, I wake up with the same goal: to make Mylan the best company it can be and to provide access to high-quality medicine for patients around the world.”

3. “You have to put yourself in situations that force you to grow.”

4. “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.”

5. “We need to make healthcare and prescription drugs more affordable and accessible to everyone.”