William (Bill) Rhodes is the president of BD Biosciences, a world leader in bringing innovative diagnostic and research tools to life scientists, medical researchers, laboratory professionals and clinicians who are involved in basic research, disease diagnosis, patient monitoring, drug discovery and drug development.
Prior to being named to his current position in 2009, Rhodes served as president of BD Biosciences Cell Analysis, a leading supplier of flow cytometry instruments and reagents for life sciences research and cell-based clinical diagnostics. Earlier roles included vice president of business development and strategic investments at BD’s corporate offices in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, where he had worldwide responsibility for business development activities. He also managed BD Ventures LLC, a corporate venture capital fund operated by BD. The fund focuses on investments in seed- and early-stage medical device, cell therapy and diagnostics companies.
Rhodes has more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, and he held senior business development positions in J&J and Pfizer before joining BD in late 1998. From 1983 until 1993, he was the president of The William-James Co., a biomedical business consulting firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions and technology due diligence in the biotechnology industry.
He holds a master’s degree in international business from Seton Hall University, and served on its faculty in the W. Paul Stillman School of Business as an adjunct professor, teaching graduate courses in the management of technological innovation and mergers and acquisitions. He has also served on the San Jose State University graduate faculty, lecturing on corporate mergers and acquisitions.
Rhodes also holds bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, and is the inventor on 10 U.S. patents and has authored numerous articles in the field of biomedical product development and investing. He currently serves on the boards of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and the SJSU Research Foundation.