Frank Barnes Mentor Award

The Frank Barnes Award was established in 2000 by a group of LES members to memorialize Frank Barnes' vast contributions to the field of licensing through mentorship.

Each year at the LES (USA & Canada) Annual meeting an award is presented to an LES member, who like Mr. Barnes, has dedicated considerable time and energy to mentoring fellow licensing professionals. Sponsored by the LES Foundation, the award honors Frank Barnes, Corporate Vice President for Abbott Laboratories, who passed away in June 2000 after a long fight with cancer. Frank’s contributions to Abbott through his in-licensing prowess are legendary, earning the company billions of dollars annually.

Aside from his financial impact for Abbott, Frank was known throughout the pharmaceutical industry as one of the ‘Deans of Pharma Licensing’. An early supporter of LES (USA & Canada), Frank mentored dozens of licensing executives who continue to make important contributions throughout the pharmaceutical industry. Thus, his legacy lives on.

• Nominations may be made by any LES member from any Sector
• A significant part of the career of the nominee must be dedicated to the field of licensing.
• The nominee must have mentored multiple Licensing Executives; and
• At least two nominations are required for each individual.
• Deadline for submissions is August 8, 2025, and the winner will be selected by the committee by August 15, 2025.

The Award recipient will be announced at the LES Annual Meeting in Boston in October 2025.

Past Frank Barnes Award recipients:

2024 - Paul A. Stewart, CLP
2023 - Ada Nielsen
2022 - Gillian Fenton, CLP
2021 - Francois Painchaud, CLP
2020-  Steven M. Ferguson, CLP
2019 - Jeffrey S. Whittle, CLP
2018 - Louise Levien, CLP
2017 - Bill Mattson
2016 - Ed Saltzman
2015 - Larry Udell
2014 - John Poulos
2013 - Don Drinkwater, CLP
2012 - Pam Demain
2011 - Richard Razgaitis
2010 - Thomas Picone, PhD (deceased)
2009 - Catherine Sohn, CLP-Emeritus
2008 - Marvin Guthrie, Esq.
2007- Ted Cross
2006 - Julius Vida (deceased)
2005 - Louis Berneman, CLP-Emeritus
2004 - James Foley
2003 - Arlene Morris
2002 - Jack Anthony
2001 - Hank Weisman (deceased)