Alan F. Holmer

Alan F. Holmer served from 1996 to 2005 as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), an organization that represents the worldwide interests of leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, based in Washington, DC. From 2005 to 2007 and again from February 2009 until its acquisition by Merck in May 2011, Mr. Holmer served as director of Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and at various times as a member of its Corporate Governance Committee, Audit Committee, and Drug Development Committee. In addition to his pharmaceutical industry experience, Mr. Holmer has significant expertise in handling legal, international trade, and governmental issues, having held various positions within the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Commerce Department, and the White House, including serving as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative with the rank of Ambassador. Mr. Holmer served as Special Envoy for China and the Strategic Economic Dialogue, a position to which he was appointed by Secretary of the Treasury, Henry M. Paulson, Jr. from 2007 to 2009. Mr. Holmer also served as a partner at the international law firm, Sidley & Austin (now Sidley Austin LLP), and as an associate at Steptoe & Johnson LLP. Since January 2012, Mr. Holmer has served as Special Counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP. Mr. Holmer has been involved in many community service organizations, including the Former Chairman of the Board of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (2009 to 2018). He also served as Co-Chairman of the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. Mr. Holmer received an A.B. degree from Princeton University and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.