Peter Shearstone of Thermo Fisher Scientific — Changing the Compliance Paradigm in Large, Global Companies

The bluEPrint by Executive Platforms

As part of the 2024 edition of the Pharma Manufacturing World Summit we interviewed Peter Shearstone, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s VP Global Quality & Regulatory Affairs, about a themed lunch discussion he hosted that revolved around Compliance in the pharmaceutical space, especially as it related to companies with a worldwide footprint. How does Compliance shape the way businesses function? How is that changing over time? How did the pandemic change the way the pharmaceutical industry thinks about itself and problem-solves? What can large organizations learn from the capabilities and outlook of smaller and more nimble companies? What are the things global companies will always do well, but can still do better? What should every leader working in this space be thinking about and learning about and doing more of to improve themselves, their teams, and the industry as a whole? For all this and more, give this episode a listen!
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Peter Shearstone is Vice President of Global Quality and Regulatory Affairs for Thermo Fisher Scientific, a position he’s held since 2018. He leads a team of over 8,000 quality and regulatory affairs (Q&RA) professionals at the enterprise level and in Thermo Fisher Scientific’s many businesses and operations spanning more than 140 countries. Peter leads a comprehensive Q&RA ecosystem that includes Clinical Affairs, Design Quality, Product Legislative Compliance, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Quality Engineering, Quality Management, Quality Systems, Regulatory Affairs and Supplier Quality.
Under Peter’s leadership, the Q&RA organization introduced the company’s first enterprise-wide quality policy, launched a companywide initiative challenging every employee to make quality personal, built a talented global team, supported the approval and launch of hundreds of new products, and improved performance across key Q&RA metrics.
Prior to joining Thermo Fisher, Peter held executive quality and regulatory roles with companies in the health care and life sciences industries during the course of nearly 35 years.
Peter is passionate about inspiring and developing the quality and regulatory leaders of tomorrow, and participates in programs promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. He speaks at universities, has hosted visits for STEM classes at Thermo Fisher facilities and encourages and mentors students to pursue careers in the life sciences industry. Peter also encourages his teams to mentor STEM students and participate in efforts to increase awareness of opportunities in the Q&RA profession.
Peter holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Salem State University in Salem, Massachusetts.