Richard H. Bagger

Rich Bagger is executive vice president of corporate affairs and market access for Celgene Corporation, a multinational biopharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery, development and commercialization of treatments for cancer and severe, immune-inflammatory conditions. Mr. Bagger is responsible for advancing patient access to Celgene therapies and driving recognition of the value of Celgene innovation through communications, patient advocacy, government relations, public policy, market access, global health and corporate responsibility activities around the world.

While on a leave of absence from Celgene in 2016, Mr. Bagger served as executive director of Trump for America, responsible for pre-election planning for the presidential transition of Donald J. Trump. Before joining Celgene in 2012, Mr. Bagger served for two years as chief of staff for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and was responsible for managing implementation of the governor’s policy agenda and priorities. After leaving state government, Mr. Bagger was appointed by Governor Christie to be a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He also serves as a trustee of the Gateway Program Development Corporation.

Previously, Mr. Bagger was employed by Pfizer Inc. for more than 16 years in a series of positions of increasing responsibility within the company’s U.S. pharmaceuticals, corporate affairs and worldwide pharmaceuticals divisions. From 2006 to 2009, he served on Pfizer’s senior-most management team as senior vice president for worldwide public affairs and policy. Prior to joining Pfizer in 1993, Mr. Bagger was assistant general counsel for Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, and before that he practiced law with McCarter & English.

Mr. Bagger’s public service includes ten years in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he was chairman of the Appropriations Committee and was elected by his colleagues as the majority conference leader. In 2001, Mr. Bagger was elected to the New Jersey Senate and served there until 2003. Before his election to the legislature, he was a councilman, planning board chairman and mayor of Westfield, New Jersey.

Mr. Bagger is a board member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum and the National Pharmaceutical Council. He also serves on advisory boards for the Rutgers Business School and Overlook Hospital and is a visiting associate at the Rutgers University Eagleton Institute.

He received his B.A. degree from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and his J.D. degree from Rutgers University Law School.