Henri A. Termeer, winner of the 2008 Biotechnology Heritage Award, is chairman, president, and CEO of Genzyme Corporation. Under his leadership over the last two decades, Genzyme has grown from a modest entrepreneurial venture to one of the world's leading biotechnology companies.
Termeer is recognized as a pioneer in developing and delivering treatments to patients with rare genetic diseases. This work has provided the foundation for Genzyme’s success, and today the company serves patients in nearly 90 countries and is diversified across a broad spectrum of medical areas.
Active in the areas of humanitarian assistance, policy, and innovation in providing access to healthcare, Termeer serves on the board of directors of both the Biotechnology Industry Organization and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. He is a director of Massachusetts General Hospital, a member of the board of fellows of Harvard Medical School, and a member of the board of directors of Project HOPE, an international nonprofit health-education and humanitarian assistance organization. Through a partnership with Project HOPE, Genzyme provides life-saving treatment at no cost to patients in developing countries.
Termeer has received many honors, including Ernst & Young's Master Entrepreneur Award, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Humanitarian Award from the March of Dimes, and the Torch of Liberty Award from the New England Office of the Anti-Defamation League. In 1999 Termeer, a native of the Netherlands, received the International Institute of Boston’s Golden Door Award, which recognizes the positive influence that immigrants have had on America.
