AbbVie Executive John G. Poulos Named 2014 Frank Barnes Mentor Award Winner by the LES

Award to be presented during Society's 50th Annual Meeting, Oct. 5-8 in San Francisco

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2014 – John G. Poulos, Vice President of Licensing and Acquisitions for AbbVie, has been named the 2014 Frank Barnes Mentor Award recipient by the Licensing Executives Society (U.S.A. and Canada), Inc. The award will be presented during the Society's 50th Annual Meeting October 5-8 in San Francisco (www.lesannual.org).

The Barnes Award was established in 2000 to memorialize Frank Barnes' extraordinary contributions to the field of licensing through mentorship.  In his honor, the award is given annually to an LES member who has contributed significantly to the field of licensing and to the development of fellow licensing professionals through outstanding mentorship activities.

"This year, LES celebrates a 50-year tradition of excellence in professional education, best practices and mentorship. These are the pillars on which the society stands and our profession relies. John Poulos exemplifies this tradition and what it means to be a licensing leader," said Bill Mattson, Chair of the Frank Barnes Award Nominating Committee. "We received numerous nominations praising John's tireless efforts aimed at developing the next generation of licensing professionals; his tremendous generosity in sharing his deep knowledge of the industry; the countless hours he has spent educating, coaching, and encouraging young colleagues; and his unfailing willingness to share his professional network.  John learned about mentoring from Frank Barnes himself, and has served as a remarkable steward of his legacy ever since. We congratulate him on this well-deserved honor."

During his 36-year career at Abbott/AbbVie in finance and general management, and since 1996 in licensing, M&A and business development, Mr. Poulos has held several global leadership positions and led the assessments and acquisitions of Knoll/BASF Pharmaceuticals, Kos Pharmaceuticals, Facet, Solvay Pharmaceuticals and Piramal Healthcare.  He has also negotiated numerous partnerships and licensing transactions which were instrumental in building the Abbott/AbbVie product portfolio.

During his many years as an LES member, Mr. Poulos has served on the Health Care Committee and has participated as a speaker at several LES meetings. He holds a Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University.

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About the Licensing Executives Society (U.S.A. and Canada), Inc. and the LES Foundation
Established in 1965, the Licensing Executives Society (U.S.A. and Canada), Inc. (LES) is a professional society comprised of over 4,000 members engaged in the transfer, use, development and marketing of intellectual property. The LES membership includes a wide range of professionals, including business executives, lawyers, licensing consultants, engineers, academicians, scientists and government officials. Many large corporations, professional firms, and universities comprise the Society's membership. The Licensing Executives Society (U.S.A. & Canada), Inc. is a member society of the Licensing Executives Society International, Inc. (LESI), with a worldwide membership of more than 10,000 members in 32 national societies, representing over 90 countries. For more information on LES, see www.lesusacanada.org.