Richard Williams CIO50 2009

Leading a root and branch transformation of the company's IT, Richard Williams has delivered better customer connectivity and a shared services body serving AstraZeneca's operations across the globe.

Since becoming AstraZeneca's CIO in 2006 he has looked after application development, information management, tech infrastructure and telecommunication networks. In his previous role as VP of commercial information systems for the US he led the company's CRM and patient/physician connectivity programme, building the company's extensive online capabilities and new technologies that allowed customers to shape AstraZeneca's R&D.

Williams began his career with Coopers & Lybrand, an international audit and consulting firm where he led programmes advising pharmaceutical and consumer companies on IT strategy and application development.

He graduated from Temple University with a degree in computer science and also holds an MBA from St Joseph's University. Williams also sits on IBM's board of advisors and its research board.