Biotechnology Heritage Award
May 6, 2010 | Tom Tritton
In Chicago yesterday, Arthur Levinson was awarded the Biotechnology Heritage Award. This is the 12th year of the award, co-sponsored by CHF and the Biotechnology Industry Organization. Previous winners are a veritable who’s who of biotech luminaries.
How many people can you name who have been closely involved in the three most iconic contemporary scientific industries–computers, software, and biotechnology? Levinson fits the bill. He has served on the board of directors of both Apple and Google, and he now chairs the board of Genentech.
Serious scientific life began for Levinson when he was hired as a research scientist in 1980 by Genentech co-founder Herb Boyer. Levinson proved his mettle with dozens of important papers and patents.
Additional talents emerged quickly, and by 1995 Levinson was the CEO of the company. Genentech is considered by many to be the founder of the biotechnology industry and has a 30-year history of delivering useful therapies for a variety of medical disorders.
Arthur Levinson has a distinguished resume. My favorite of his awards is from glassdoor.com, who named him the nicest CEO of the year in 2008. Surely this is an honor all CEOs should aspire to.