John Palmer

John Palmer is currently President & CEO of Vanguard Solar, Inc., a seed-funded thin-film photovoltaics technology company. Prior to this he was a senior executive for seventeen years with Biogen Idec, a leading biotechnology company, responsible at various stages for marketing, business development, manufacturing operations, drug development programs and international subsidiaries. He also conducted M&A activities and initiated corporate ventures strategies during this period. Earlier careers included marketing/sales roles in consumer products with General Foods and strategy consulting with an early BCG spin-off company, Strategic Planning Associates in Washington, DC. He has an MBA from The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania and was an army officer with the 101st Airborne Division. John also currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees for The Longwood Symphony Orchestra in Boston.