Pfizer CEO: ‘We can have a vaccine by October’

Working in a news organization gives you the opportunity to meet important people with fascinating personal and professional histories. It is a sort of antidote to the toxicity of the public sphere.

I first heard of Albert Bourla a few months ago. I read that he is Greek but could never have imagined just how Greek he really is. When I sent him the first email in English, he replied that he is a "real Greek" and in our ensuing Skype conversations I realized that he has perfect command of the language, follows developments in Greece closely and really cares about the country.

Bourla is chairman and chief executive officer at the multinational pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. Apart from a successful executive, he is also often on the telephone with US President Donald Trump, discussing the coronavirus crisis.

In his native Thessaloniki he is known as Akis. He hails...