If there’s one thing a virus is known for, it’s that it does not discriminate. Whether you’re rich, poor, a celebrity, politician, employee or employer; the coronavirus affects everyone.
As of April 7th, 2020, the following CEO’s have tested positive for the novel coronavirus:
WHO: Howard A. Willard III
COMPANY: Altria Company
Howard A. Willard III, 56, is the CEO of Marlboro cigarette’s Altria Company. The company invested $12.8 billion in the Juul vaporizers for a 35% equity stake in December 2018.
Willard tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a statement released by the company.
“Dear Employees,
I’m sorry to inform you that today Howard was diagnosed as positive for COVID-19. Howard has been out of the office for several days, and we have notified those who were in close contact with Howard and asked them to self-quarantine for 14 days.
To ensure that the company is fully functioning at this critical time and to focus on his health, Howard has decided to take a temporary medical leave of absence. We fully briefed the Board of Directors this afternoon, and the directors decided that, in light of the circumstances, Billy will assume all the duties of CEO (in addition to his duties as CFO) until Howard is back on his feet. The Board respects Howard’s need to focus on recovery and expressed confidence that Billy will effectively lead the company through this challenging time.
As you know, Billy has worked alongside Howard for many years. As Vice Chairman and CFO, he knows our business inside and out. With the help of our strong and experienced Leadership Team, Billy will continue to perform the duties of his role while assuming Howard’s CEO responsibilities until Howard returns.
I know you will join me in wishing Howard and his family well.”
WHO: Patrick Foye
COMPANY: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
“MTA Chairman and CEO Pat Foye learned that he has tested positive for COVID-19. Pat is currently isolating at home, [but] feeling good and maintaining his full schedule,” said Abbey Collins, MTA’s Chief Communications Officer.
As of March 26th, over 156 MTA employees have tested positive for the coronavirus, 1,181 employees are in self-quarantine, and 22 have died.
WHO: Teresa Elder
COMPANY: WOW Internet, Cable and Phone
While the WOW company transitioned its employees to work remotely, CEO Teresa Elder found herself admitted to a Denver hospital after testing positive for this virus. As of March 29th, Elder still remains hospitalized.
WHO: Glenn Fogel
COMPANY: Booking Holdings, provider of online travel (including Booking.com and Kayak)
In a financial filing with the Securities and Stock Exchange in April, the travel holdings company disclosed that their CEO, Glenn Fogel, tested positive for coronavirus.
With an open letter to employees, he said, “I am reaching out to share some news with you that I have tested positive for the coronavirus.” Experiencing “flu-like symptoms,” prompted him to get tested during the last week of March. However, Fogel claims he now “feels fine” and will continue his work as CEO.
WHO: Carlos Migoya, CEO , Head of Miami-Dade County’s Public Health System
COMPANY: Jackson Health System
In a statement, Migoya said he decided to get tested for COVID-19 after crossing paths with, “positive cases to whom I was exposed.”
Migoya went on to say, “I chose to keep this private because I did not want to take any focus away from the nurses, doctors, technicians, environmental workers, food-service staff, and others who are putting themselves on the front lines of this crisis every day in order to serve our patients.”
According to Jacksonhealth.org, Jackson Health System consists of: Jackson Memorial Hospital, Jackson South Medical Center, Jackson North Medical Center, Holtz Children’s Hospital, Jackson Rehabilitation Hospital, Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital, a network of UHealth Jackson Urgent Care centers, primary care and specialty care centers, nursing facilities, and Corrections Health Services.
WHO: Glenn Rufrano
COMPANY: Vereit Inc.
In a financial filing with the Securities and Stock Exchange, the real estate investment and management company disclosed that their CEO, Glenn Rufrano, tested positive for coronavirus. Rufrano, who is 70 years-old, is in a higher risk category for the virus. Based out of the company’s New York City office, Rufrano is expected to make a full recovery and is quarantining at home during.
WHO: Kurt Barwis
COMPANY: Bristol Health, medical healthcare network in Connecticut
Bristol Health’s CEO, Kurt Barwis, sent a letter to his network’s employees explaining that, “After experiencing some normal cold symptoms, I called my doctor who reviewed my conditions and determined that I need to be tested before returning to work.”
After testing for the virus, the results then came back positive.
WHO: Manny Chirico
COMPANY: PVH Corp., formerly known as Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation (Calvin Klein’s parent company)
Clothing brand and apparel PVH’s CEO, Manny Chirico, has tested positive for the coronavirus. After his guest appearance on CNBC’s Mad Money with Jim Cramer, Chirico admitted he was shocked at the diagnosis.
WHO: Jeff Shell
COMPANY: NBCUniversal
The newly appointed CEO of NBCUniversal, Jeff Shell, has tested positive for the coronavirus. In a statement to staff, Shell wrote, “I recently have been feeling under the weather and just learned that I have tested positive for COVID-19.”
He went on to say that, “Although the virus has been tough to cope with, I have managed to work remotely in L.A., and am improving every day.”
WHO: Michael Maron
COMPANY: Holy Name Hospital
Michael Maron, CEO of New Jersey’s Holy Name Hospital, tested positive for the virus, along with his wife and son. Bergen County has the highest number of positive cases in the state of New Jersey.
In a public statement, Maron said, “Like so many in our area and in the healthcare field, I’ve tested positive for COVID-19.” He goes on to say, “I’m being monitored by Holy Name’s telemedicine program as I recover at home. I continue to work from home. Thanks to technology, I am in constant “virtual” touch with the Holy Name’s leadership team.”
WHO: Jim Dolan
COMPANY: New York Knicks
Madison Square Garden Company CEO, James Dolan, 64, has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the New York Knicks Twitter account.
The tweet states, “The Madison Square Garden Company Executive Chairman and CEO Jim Dolan has tested positive for coronavirus. He has been in self-isolation and is experiencing little to no symptoms. He continues to oversee business operations.”
WHO: Cedric Francois
COMPANY: Apellis Pharmaceuticals
CEO and co-founder of Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Cedric Francois, tested positive for the virus one week after he attended a biotech conference. In a statement on his LinkedIn page, Francois explains that hasn’t experienced a fever, cough or shortness of breath, “but general malaise.”
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