Myrtle Potter
Real Estate Developer and Consultant
The Chapman Group
Myrtle Potter is a real estate developer who founded and operates The Chapman Group, which address the need for affordable home ownership in high cost-of-living areas in the United States and other areas of the world. She is also an executive consultant and advisor who specializing corporate strategy, commercial practices, corporate governance, and product development. Her consulting clients include leading biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and device companies as well as some of the world's leading venture capital firms.
Previously, Ms. Potter joined Genentech in 2000 as executive vice president and COO. In 2004, she was promoted to president, commercial operations, which included sales, marketing, managed care, business development, product distribution, customer service, and commercial operations functions. She also co-chaired Genentech's product portfolio committee and served as a member of the executive committee.
Prior to Genentech, Ms. joined Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1996 as vice president, strategy and economics; was promoted to group vice president, worldwide medicines group; and then to senior vice president of sales, U.S. Cardiovascular/Metabolics, before becoming president of that business. Prior to Bristol-Myers Squibb, Potter worked at Merck for more than 14 years.
In 2006 Ms. Potter was recognized by the American Diabetes Association for her leadership and contributions to business and community. In 2004 and 2005 she was featured by the Wall Street Journal which listed her as one of its "50 Women To Watch." In 2003 and 2004 she was listed in FORTUNE magazine's "Top 50 Most Powerful Women In Business" list. In 2005 she was profiled in Harvard Business Review in an article titled "What Great Leaders Do". She was recognized in 2005 by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the "75 Most Powerful Blacks in Corporate America." In 2002, Ms. Potter was also named to FORTUNE magazine's "Most Powerful Black Executives in America" list and to Time magazine's "15 Young Global Business Influentials" list. Her numerous other honors include the Girl Scouts of the USA's esteemed National Woman of Distinction Award given to women who, through their professional and personal accomplishments, serve as role models for girls. In 2000, Ms. Potter was named the Healthcare Business Women's Association Woman of the Year.
Ms. Potter serves as a member of the board of directors for Amazon.com, Fox Hollow Technologies, and Eleuthera Properties, Ltd.; is one of five members of the Citizen's Financial Accountability Oversight Committee of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Foundation; and serves on the board of trustees of the Castilleja School.
Ms. Potter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago and resides in Northern California and South Florida with her family.
