John J. Castellani

John Castellani became President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) in August 2010.

As PhRMA’s President and CEO, Mr. Castellani leads an organization that represents America’s leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which directly employ more than 600,000 men and women nationwide working to create new medicines that help patients the world over fight disease and live longer, healthier lives. PhRMA members are among the most innovative research-based companies in the world, investing an estimated $45.8 billion in new medical research and development in 2009 alone.

In assuming his new responsibilities, Mr. Castellani has pledged that PhRMA will continue to lead efforts to find patient-centered solutions to health care challenges in America and around the globe. In particular, PhRMA will focus on helping to successfully implement – and improve – the recently enacted health care reform law and will work to build a dynamic environment in the U.S. that promotes and rewards medical innovation.

Before joining PhRMA, Mr. Castellani was President and Chief Executive Officer of Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. corporations with a combined workforce of nearly 12 million employees and $6 trillion in annual revenues. Business Roundtable was cited by The Financial Times as "the most influential chief executive lobbying group in the U.S." and is at the forefront of public policy debates, advocating for a vigorous, dynamic global economy. Mr. Castellani served at the Business Roundtable from May 2001 to July 2010, where he significantly strengthened the Roundtable’s reputation in Washington, DC, nationally and internationally.

Under Mr. Castellani, the Roundtable played vital roles in the adoption of long-awaited civil justice reform legislation in 2005, approval of the Central America Free Trade Agreement, and enactment of critically important legislation to lower tax rates and slash taxes on dividends in 2003. He also was a leader of the coalition working in support of Social Security reform, the “Divided We Fail” partnership formed to urge Congressional action on health care reform and retirement security, and other initiatives to keep the United States competitive and a global hub of innovation.

Mr. Castellani is frequently sought-out by the news media for his expert insights on business and public policy issues, appearing on such programs as NBC’s “Meet the Press,” PBS’ “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer,” Fox News Channel’s “Special Report,” and CNBC’s “Street Signs.” He also regularly testified before Congress on issues of key concern to Business Roundtable, and discussed the Roundtable’s agenda for economic growth in venues such as the Detroit Economic Club and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Prior to becoming President of Business Roundtable, Mr. Castellani was Executive Vice President of Tenneco Inc., and part of the senior management team that led the transformation of the ailing conglomerate into seven strong companies.

Mr. Castellani’s Washington experience includes serving as Vice President for Resources and Technology with the National Association of Manufacturers, and as Vice President of State, Federal and International Government Relations for TRW Inc. He started his career at General Electric as an environmental scientist and strategic planner.

In 2007, Castellani was named one of the 100 most influential people in corporate governance by Directorship Magazine.

A graduate of Union College in Schenectady, New York, Mr. Castellani now serves on its board of trustees. He is also an Ethics Resource Center Executive Fellow and a member of the Advisory Council of the Business Roundtable Institute for Corporate Ethics in addition to being a member of The Economic Club of Washington, DC. He and his wife, Terry, reside in Washington, DC, and have two sons.