Catharine Grimes is president of the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (BMS Foundation), an independent charitable organization dedicated to strengthening health systems globally. She brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector, including joining Bristol Myers Squibb in 1997 and the BMS Foundation in 2010. Catharine was appointed president in 2024.

Throughout her career, Catharine has focused on addressing challenges in access to care by forging cross-sector partnerships and advancing sustainable approaches to improving health outcomes in underserved communities worldwide. She is known for bringing a systems-level perspective to global health, using strategic philanthropy to catalyze innovation, build local capacity and strengthen pathways to diagnosis and treatment.

As president, she has led the evolution of the Foundation’s strategy and operating model, shaping a global portfolio focused on adult cancers; pediatric cancers and childhood blood disorders; brain health; and clinical research. Under her leadership, the Foundation invests in capacity building and health system strengthening programs and grantee partnerships across Sub-Saharan Africa, Brazil, India and the United States.

Catharine brings a distinctive ability to translate complex global health challenges into clear, actionable strategies, bringing together partners across sectors to create lasting improvements in access to care.

She holds an MBA in healthcare administration from the Baruch College / Mount Sinai School of Medicine Executive MBA Program and a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the University of Mississippi. She is a CPA and a fellow of The New York Academy of Medicine.