Henri A. Termeer Square Officially Dedicated in Cambridge

Dec 4, 2020

Public Installation Honors Legacy and Contribution of Biotechnology Industry Pioneer

Life-sized sculpture of Henri Termeer Unveiled as Square Centerpiece

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., December 4, 2020, – The Henri A. Termeer Tribute Committee along with the Termeer Foundation, today announced the completion and dedication of the Henri A. Termeer Square. Located in the heart of Cambridge’s Kendall Square, the public space was created to honor Henri Termeer who was a founding father of the biotechnology industry, and long-time CEO of Genzyme Corporation. Mr. Termeer unexpectedly passed away on May 12, 2017 at the age of 71.

Information on the Henri A. Termeer Square project and dedication can be found here.

“I am amazed how all the elements of the project have come together to form a beautiful visual experience,” said Belinda Termeer, President of The Termeer Foundation. “The dedication of the Henri A. Termeer Square and the public unveiling of his statue is a testimony to all of the many people and organizations who took part in this development and worked together to create this beautiful public space. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone for turning my daughter’s vision into a reality. Having her Dad’s statue as a touchstone in this community will keep his spirit alive. His statue feels at home here. The Termeer Foundation would like to thank all who contributed to this project in continuing Henri’s legacy.”

The Square is located at the former Kendall Square North location and adjacent to the one-time Genzyme headquarters. The site includes a rolling lawn, a fountain that runs into a shallow, reflecting “Giving Tree” pool, around which there is inscribed a quote from Henri Termeer. A sitting area for visitors near the fountain includes a life-size and life-like sculpture of Henri Termeer seated as if in conversation and offering advice to a colleague; a common occurrence for him. The statue was created by renowned sculptor Pablo Eduardo who was commissioned by the Tribute Committee to create a sculpture of Henri to serve as a lasting remembrance of his tireless support for patients, next generation leaders and the community.

“The Henri A. Termeer Square is a wonderful and lasting remembrance to Henri’s legacy and his pervasive impact on the biotechnology industry,” said John Maraganore, CEO of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Termeer Tribute Co-Chair. “Henri not only redefined how all companies approach their work and relationships with patients, particularly those with rare genetic diseases, but he was also a gifted mentor who touched and inspired scores of future biotechnology leaders with his astute guidance and insight.”

“Henri will be long-remembered for his incredible impact on the local Cambridge biotechnology sector as well as being a catalyst for global advancements in rare diseases, an area historically untouched by our industry before he and Genzyme transformed this therapeutic area into opportunities for patients,” said Robert Coughlin, President and CEO of MassBio and Termeer Tribute Co-Chair. “The many accomplishments of Henri and his extraordinary leadership have been strongly linked to the growth we have achieved as a biotech sector. I am delighted to have this beautiful space in the heart of Kendall Square serve as a reminder of his impact and the spirit with which he influenced this community.”

The Henri A. Termeer Committee guided the project since its 2018 groundbreaking and recent 2020 completion. The Committee included representatives from Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, MassBio, MassBioEd, BioMed Realty, and the Termeer Foundation and Family. Stantec Inc. designed the Square and was led by Bob Corning. Construction was done by Suffolk Construction and the project was managed by Kevin Pessolano, Coffey Design + Build.

“Henri was a friend and mentor to so many of us but, more importantly, he set a new standard for social equity in healthcare,” said Bill Kane, Executive Vice President, East Coast and UK Markets. “Thanks to the extraordinary vision of Belinda and Adriana Termeer, Pablo Eduardo, and Stantec, Termeer Square memorializes Henri’s legacy in a very special way and encourages the general public to think about his values.”

The Henri A. Termeer Square was privately financed and a select group of biopharmaceutical companies supported this project as Visionary Sponsors. Those organizations include: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi Genzyme, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Biogen, Ipsen and the Termeer Family. Additionally, there were a strong contingent of private donors who also offered their support.

About Henri Termeer
Henri A. Termeer was a former Chairman, President and CEO of Genzyme Corporation for nearly three decades prior to its acquisition by the French drug maker Sanofi. Henri unexpectedly passed away on May 12, 2017 at the age of 71. He was known for his service to the rare disease community and his unsurpassed entrepreneurial leadership that spurred the rise of an industry dedicated to innovative treatments for orphan diseases. Under his stewardship Genzyme grew from a modest entrepreneurial venture to one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies and a pioneer of some of the first treatments for rare genetic diseases. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of Boston’s booming biotech industry. In addition to his entrepreneurial engagements, Henri was a beloved mentor and an avid philanthropist.

About The Termeer Foundation

The Termeer Foundation is a nonprofit organization working to connect the world of healthcare innovators until every patient has a cure. We build and support an ever-expanding network of biotech entrepreneurs, CEOs, academics, and other innovators because we believe that helping people succeed will ultimately help their innovations reach patients. Our support includes mentoring, networking, professional development, and financial grants intended to facilitate connections, break down silos, strengthen skillsets and ultimately enable a diverse array of current and future healthcare leaders who bring much-needed solutions to patients. Find out more about The Termeer Foundation and how you can support, engage with, and join our network at www.termeerfoundation.org or on LinkedIn @TermeerFoundation.

Contact:
Erica Mawby-Roche
Termeer Foundation
erica@termeerfoundation.org

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Building a successful biotech company requires more than money and an innovative approach to treat disease. It also requires a leader who is passionate, values-driven and people-focused — willing to go the distance to ensure patients get the life-changing therapies they need.

The Termeer Foundation’s Fellows Program is uniquely focused on this third ingredient, a distinctive program dedicated to supporting the person at the helm of a growing company. Through its multi-faceted curriculum and diverse network of innovators and entrepreneurs, the Termeer Fellows Program provides professional development through specific skills, competency growth, development opportunities, mentorship, executive coaching, and network building for first-time CEOs of early-stage or non-profit biotech and life sciences organizations. These offerings are designed to empower biotech leaders and provide them with the tools, resources, and support they need to build a culture and company that will thrive.

The Fellows Program, which began in 2018, includes a variety of both in-person and virtual events. These sessions cover a diverse range of topics, including personal leadership, team development, DEI initiatives, communication, executive presence, professional presentation, transparency, board management, strategy, problem-solving, change management, decision-making, and human resources-focused topics such as hiring, recruiting, and retention.

To date, 61 fellows have participated in the program, and the feedback has been extremely positive. In a survey of the 2023 Termeer Fellows, 100% said they acquired a variety of resources to continue to refine their development as a leader and that they feel connected to a network of professionals who can guide and assist them.

Because leadership, particularly of an early-stage biotech company, can be a lonely, isolating experience at times, the Fellows Program also helps foster a sense of community and support among the fellows in each class. In the 2023 Termeer Fellows survey, 100% indicated they have a strong professional network of peer biotech founders after participating in the program.

Each year, incoming fellows are selected for the Termeer Fellows Program through a competitive, stepwise process that begins with an open, online application. This selection process reflects the values that lie at the core of the Foundation’s mission and the Fellows Program: responsibility, passion, innovation, humility, and connectivity. (Applications for the 2025 fellowship year will be available online on September 30.)

As Safia Rizvi, CEO of CILA Therapeutics and a 2023 Termeer Fellow, remarked, “The Termeer Fellowship has been a transformative experience for me, both professionally and personally. It offered me the chance to learn from my peers, mentors, foundation members, and the numerous resources provided throughout the program. Most importantly, I have found a community.”