William R. Miller

Who is William R. Miller?

William Robert Miller CBE, sometimes known as Bill Miller, is a British-born businessman who was Vice-Chairman of Bristol-Myers Squibb until 1990. Subsequently, he has become a philanthropist and supporter of scientific, artistic, educational and ecclesiastical causes.

Miller was born in 1928 in Paddington, West London, one of three brothers. In 1939 he was evacuated from the war with his mother and brothers to Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, whilst his father stayed behind. After a year at a state school, he won a scholarship to Culford School, which he attended until 1946 before winning a further scholarship to read PPE at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. Three years of National Service in the RAF intervened once the family moved back to London, and he took up his place at Oxford in 1949, graduating in 1952.

Upon leaving university, Miller began a career in the pharmaceuticals industry with Pfizer, rising to become Area Manager for Central Europe and Africa, before moving to US-based Bristol Laboratories in 1964 as Resident Overseas Manager for Europe. In 1985 he became Vice-Chairman of the company with worldwide responsibility for the pharmaceutical and nutritional businesses, including research. He retired in 1990.