George Barrett is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Cardinal Health, Inc., a role he held from August 2009 through end-2017, when he became executive chairman of the board until November 2018.

Previously, Barrett spent a decade at global pharmaceutical manufacturer Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., most recently as president and CEO of its North American business and corporate executive vice president for global pharmaceuticals. Barrett also held various senior positions with Alpharma Inc., serving as president of U.S. pharmaceuticals and president of NMC Laboratories, before its acquisition by Alpharma.

Barrett serves on the boards of Target Corporation, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, healthcare-focused artificial intelligence company Olive, Brown University and Children’s Hospitals’ Solutions for Patient Safety. He is vice chair of the board of trustees of The Conference Board. Additionally, he serves on the National Academy of Medicine’s President’s Advisory Council on Healthy Longevity and the Academy’s Health Professional Education and Training Working Group of the Action Collaborative on Countering the U.S. Opioid Epidemic. Barrett previously served on the board of Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, and as board chair of Healthcare Leadership Council and Generic Pharmaceutical Industry Association.

He is a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor awarded annually to distinguished American citizens who exemplify a life dedicated to community service. Barrett also received the Peter G. Peterson Business Statesmanship Award from the Committee for Economic Development recognizing executives who champion issues in the interest of the public good and who hold themselves to the highest standards of ethics and integrity. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University and a Master of Business Administration from New York University. Barrett also holds an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Long Island University’s Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from the Columbus College of Art & Design.