Bristol-Myers Squibb vs Nestlé: Founders, CEOs and History
Bristol-Myers Squibb was founded in 1887 by Edward Robinson Squibb, William McLaren Bristol, John Ripley Myers and is led by Christopher Boerner. Nestlé was founded in 1866 by Henri Nestlé, Charles Page, George Page and is led by Philipp Navratil.
Company facts
Bristol-Myers Squibb
- Founded
- 1887
- Headquarters
- Princeton, New Jersey
- Current CEO
- Christopher Boerner
- Employees
- 32,500
Nestlé
- Founded
- 1866
- Headquarters
- Vevey, Switzerland
- Current CEO
- Philipp Navratil
- Employees
- 270,000
Founders
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Edward Robinson Squibb
Squibb resigned his Navy post and opened a small laboratory in Brooklyn in 1858 to make pure ether, chloroform and other medicines.
William McLaren Bristol
In 1887 Bristol and Myers bought the Clinton Pharmaceutical Company of Clinton, New York, reportedly for about $5,000.
John Ripley Myers
Myers and Bristol bought the Clinton Pharmaceutical Company in Clinton, New York, in 1887 and renamed it Bristol, Myers and Company in 1898.
Nestlé
Henri Nestlé
Henri Nestlé (1814-1890) developed Farine Lactée in 1867, a milk-and-cereal infant food for babies who could not be breastfed. Its success gave the company his name and nest logo. He sold the business in 1875.
Charles Page
Charles Page (1838-1873) was an American diplomat who recognized the potential for producing high-quality condensed milk utilizing Switzerland's abundant fresh milk supply. In 1866, he co-founded the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company with his brother George.
George Page
George Page co-founded the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company in 1866 and led it as it grew in Europe, selling condensed milk under the Milkmaid brand. He died in 1899, before the 1905 merger with Nestlé.
CEOs and their tenures
Bristol-Myers Squibb
- Charles A. Heimbold Jr.1994–2001
Chief Executive Officer
Serving as CEO from 1994 to 2001, he aggressively expanded the company's oncology portfolio, notably launching the blockbuster cancer drug Taxol, which drove massive revenue growth.
Source - Peter R. Dolan2001–2006
Chief Executive Officer
Dolan, who had run the consumer products and medical device divisions, succeeded Charles Heimbold in May 2001. His tenure included the ImClone partnership on the cancer drug Erbitux and a federal investigation into wholesaler inventory practices.
Source - James M. Cornelius2006–2010
Chief Executive Officer
Cornelius took over after Peter Dolan's removal in September 2006 and ran the company until May 2010.
Source - Lamberto Andreotti2010–2015
Chief Executive Officer
Andreotti, previously president and chief operating officer, became CEO on May 4, 2010.
Source - Giovanni Caforio2015–2023
Chief Executive Officer
Caforio, a physician, succeeded Lamberto Andreotti in May 2015. He led the $74 billion Celgene acquisition in 2019, the $13.1 billion MyoKardia deal in 2020 and the $4.1 billion Turning Point deal in 2022, and agreed the Mirati purchase in October 2023.
Source - Chris Boerner2023–present
Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Boerner became CEO in November 2023 and board chair on April 1, 2024, after serving as executive vice president, chief operating officer and CEO-designate from April 2023 and earlier as chief commercialization officer.
Source
Nestlé
- Peter Brabeck-Letmathe1997–2008
Chief Executive Officer
Under Brabeck-Letmathe Nestle expanded in pet care, ice cream and baby food and became more focused on nutrition and health. He became chairman in 2005 and stayed in that role until 2017.
Source - Paul Bulcke2008–2016
Chief Executive Officer
During his tenure Nestle grew its nutrition and health-science businesses and strengthened its position in emerging markets. He handed the chief executive role to Ulf Mark Schneider in 2017 and became chairman.
Source - Mark Schneider2017–2024
Chief Executive Officer
Under Schneider Nestle focused its portfolio on coffee, pet care, nutrition and health science, and sold water, skin-care and confectionery assets. The board replaced him in 2024 and Laurent Freixe took over.
Source - Laurent Freixe2024–2025
Former Chief Executive Officer
Served as CEO before the board appointed Philipp Navratil in September 2025.
Source - Philipp Navratil2025–present
Chief Executive Officer
Appointed CEO on September 1, 2025 and tasked with accelerating execution, efficiency, and the existing strategic direction.
Source
Timeline: Bristol-Myers Squibb and Nestlé side by side
1858Bristol-Myers Squibb
Edward Robinson Squibb opens his Brooklyn laboratory
Navy surgeon Edward Robinson Squibb started making pure ether and other medicines in Brooklyn. The laboratory burned down on Christmas Eve 1858 and reopened in 1859 after local doctors and surgeons contributed $2,100.
1866Nestlé
Nestlé and Anglo-Swiss Origins
Henri Nestlé develops infant nutrition products while Charles and George Page found Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company.
1887Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol and Myers buy the Clinton Pharmaceutical Company
Hamilton College graduates William McLaren Bristol and John Ripley Myers bought the Clinton Pharmaceutical Company of Clinton, New York, the business that became Bristol-Myers.
1898Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol, Myers and Company is named
The founders renamed the business Bristol, Myers and Company in May 1898. After Myers died in 1899 it became Bristol-Myers, which built national brands in Sal Hepatica and, from 1901, Ipana toothpaste.
1905Nestlé
Nestlé and Anglo-Swiss Merge
The merger creates the foundation of the modern Nestlé group.
1938Nestlé
Nescafé Launches
Nestlé launches Nescafé, one of the company's defining global brands.
1944Bristol-Myers Squibb
Penicillin at wartime scale
Squibb opened what was then the world's largest penicillin plant in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Bristol-Myers had bought Cheplin Biological Laboratories in East Syracuse, New York, in 1943 and converted it to penicillin for Allied forces.
1985Nestlé
Acquired Carnation
Nestlé acquired Carnation. Expanded Nestlé in dairy, coffee creamers, and pet food.
1989Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers and Squibb merge
Bristol-Myers and Squibb combined to form Bristol-Myers Squibb, uniting a consumer and pharmaceutical company with a research-led drugmaker.
2001Nestlé
Ralston Purina Acquisition
Nestlé acquires Ralston Purina, transforming its pet care business.
2006Bristol-Myers Squibb
CEO Peter Dolan removed over the Plavix deal
After an FBI raid in July 2006 over a patent settlement with generic maker Apotex on the blood thinner Plavix, the federal monitor urged the board to remove CEO Peter Dolan, who stepped down on September 12, 2006.
2007Nestlé
Acquired Gerber
Nestlé acquired Gerber.
2009Bristol-Myers Squibb
Medarex bought and Mead Johnson split off
BMS bought Medarex, gaining Yervoy and a share of what became Opdivo, and split off Mead Johnson Nutrition in an exchange offer, completing its shift to a specialty biopharmaceutical company.
2011Bristol-Myers Squibb
FDA approves Yervoy
Yervoy (ipilimumab) became the first drug shown to extend overall survival in advanced melanoma, opening BMS's immuno-oncology franchise.
2012Bristol-Myers Squibb
FDA approves Eliquis
The FDA approved Eliquis (apixaban), developed with Pfizer, in December 2012 for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation. It became BMS's largest product, with $14.4 billion of sales in 2025.
2014Bristol-Myers Squibb
FDA approves Opdivo
The FDA approved the PD-1 inhibitor Opdivo (nivolumab) in December 2014 for advanced melanoma. It reached $10.0 billion of sales in 2025.
2018Nestlé
Starbucks Global Consumer Products License
Nestlé obtains rights to market Starbucks-branded consumer packaged goods and food-service products outside Starbucks stores.
2019Bristol-Myers Squibb
Celgene acquisition closes
BMS completed its $74 billion purchase of Celgene on November 20, 2019, adding Revlimid, Pomalyst, Reblozyl and CAR-T programs. Celgene sold Otezla to Amgen for $13.4 billion to win regulatory approval.
2020Bristol-Myers Squibb
MyoKardia deal and a GAAP loss
BMS bought MyoKardia for $13.1 billion, gaining mavacamten (Camzyos). The deal's $11.4 billion in-process R&D charge pushed 2020 to a net loss despite $42.5 billion of revenue.
2022Bristol-Myers Squibb
Turning Point bought as Revlimid generics arrive
BMS completed the $4.1 billion purchase of Turning Point Therapeutics in August 2022 while volume-limited generic lenalidomide began eroding Revlimid, which had peaked at $12.8 billion in 2021.
2023Bristol-Myers Squibb
Chris Boerner becomes CEO
Chris Boerner succeeded Giovanni Caforio as chief executive in November 2023 and became board chair on April 1, 2024. Weeks earlier BMS had agreed to buy Mirati, and in December it agreed to buy Karuna and RayzeBio.
2024Bristol-Myers Squibb
Karuna, Mirati and RayzeBio close; Cobenfy approved
The three deals closed between January and March 2024. On September 26, 2024 the FDA approved Cobenfy, the first schizophrenia drug that targets muscarinic rather than dopamine receptors. The Karuna charge produced an $8.9 billion net loss for 2024.
2025Bristol-Myers Squibb
BioNTech partnership, Orbital deal and $48.2B revenue
BMS agreed in June 2025 to co-develop BioNTech's bispecific BNT327 and in October 2025 to buy Orbital Therapeutics for $1.5 billion. Full-year revenue was $48.2 billion with the Growth Portfolio up 17 percent.
2025Nestlé
Philipp Navratil Appointed CEO
Nestlé appoints Philipp Navratil CEO on September 1, 2025 following Laurent Freixe's departure.
2025Nestlé
Sales Reach CHF 89.5 Billion
Nestlé reports 2025 total sales of ~$107 billion (CHF 89.5 billion), net profit of ~$10.8 billion (CHF 9.0 billion), and UTOP margin of 16.1%.
2026Bristol-Myers Squibb
Guidance raised and merger reports denied
On July 30, 2026 BMS raised its 2026 revenue guidance to $49.0 to $50.0 billion after second-quarter revenue of $12.97 billion. In August, reports of AstraZeneca merger talks were followed by a senior source telling Reuters there were no discussions.
2026Nestlé
Peranel Waters Joint Venture Announced
Nestlé and Platinum Equity agree to create Peranel, a 50:50 joint venture for Nestlé's waters and premium beverages business.
Acquisitions
Bristol-Myers Squibb
- Orbital Therapeutics2025$1.5B
- Mirati Therapeutics2024$4.8B
- RayzeBio2024$4.1B
- Karuna Therapeutics2024$14B
- Turning Point Therapeutics2022$4.1B
- MyoKardia2020$13.1B
Nestlé
- Starbucks consumer-products license2018$7.2B
- Gerber2007$5.5B
- Ralston Purina2001$10.3B
- Carnation1985$3B
Questions about Bristol-Myers Squibb vs Nestlé
Who is the CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Nestlé S.A.?
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company is led by Christopher Boerner and Nestlé S.A. is led by Philipp Navratil. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Bristol-Myers Squibb Company founded vs Nestlé S.A.?
Nestlé S.A. was founded in 1866 — 21 years before Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, which was founded in 1887. Nestlé S.A.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
How many employees does Bristol-Myers Squibb Company have compared to Nestlé S.A.?
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company employs approximately 32,500 people, while Nestlé S.A. employs approximately 270,000. Nestlé S.A. has the larger workforce at 270,000 employees, compared to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company's 32,500. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Nestlé S.A. headquartered?
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company is headquartered in United States and Nestlé S.A. is headquartered in Switzerland. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Nestlé S.A.?
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company was founded by Edward Robinson Squibb, William McLaren Bristol, John Ripley Myers. Nestlé S.A. was founded by Henri Nestlé, Charles Page, George Page.
Which company has a longer operating history — Bristol-Myers Squibb Company or Nestlé S.A.?
Nestlé S.A. has been operating for approximately 160 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company has been in operation for around 139 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Bristol-Myers Squibb vs Nestlé overview