Ernest Mario

Ernest Mario embodies the American success story. The son of a janitor, he grew up in a basement apartment in Clifton and went on to become the chief executive of Glaxo, which was the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical company. He was chair and CEO of Reliant Pharmaceuticals from 2003–07, when he became president and CEO of Capnia, Inc, a company that develops innovative therapeutic products using its proprietary medical gas delivery system. Mario’s 1990 commencement address at Duke University received attention in the national media for its emphasis on the importance of ethical standards for business leaders. He is a former member of the Rutgers University Foundation Board of Overseers and a former Rutgers trustee. He often takes time to meet with Rutgers students in doctoral programs to offer advice and inspiration. His remarkable ability to build the research capabilities of major pharmaceutical corporations has made him one of the highest-ranking executives in the field today. As a tribute to Mario’s great success, and in appreciation of his generous support, the Rutgers Board of Governors renamed his alma mater the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy.