6 Things You Might Not Know About Richard Pops, CEO Of Alkermes

By Rob Wright, Chief Editor, Life Science Leader
Follow Me On Twitter @RfwrightLSL

Next month Life Science Leader will feature Alkermes CEO Richard Pops, not only one of the longest tenured CEOs in biopharma, but probably one of the top five most-tenured American CEOs of publicly traded companies. Despite this longevity, being the CEO is a mantle he still wears somewhat uncomfortably, as it implies hierarchy. “What we do are major team activities, and no human endeavor is more complicated than making a biopharmaceutical product,” he affirms.

In the article, Pops talks about some of the complicated and complex decisions he has had to make over the years. He also elaborates on what it was like to become CEO of a company at the age of 28, how the company’s business model has changed, and how Alkermes’ culture has evolved. Until the May issue comes out, here are a few interesting facts about Richard Pops you may not know:

1. He graduated from Stanford with a B.A. in Economics, and he played varsity lacrosse.
2. If he weren’t a CEO, he’d be trying to be some type of athlete.
3. He’s a runner and has competed in marathons and triathlons.
4. He enjoys cooking Mexican food.
5. He is a downhill skier.
6. He has a house in Vermont where he spends time outdoors and is known to be very proficient with a chainsaw.