Chris Bowers is an experienced executive, entrepreneur, and advisor. As an executive in a global high-tech company, he led HR and supported the transition to a combined CEO/Chairman role on the Board. He ran a portfolio of global functions, worked on M&A strategy, and led integrations. As COO of an early-stage Biotech company, Operations Partner for a Climate Tech growth equity fund, and previously the Founder/CEO of Climate Tech companies, he has direct experience of the funding and execution dynamics associated with public and private high tech growth companies. As an advisor, Chris has worked with early-stage company boards, coached global executives; and supported student and social entrepreneurs.
Currently, Chris is COO/Advisor at MaveriX Oncology, an early-stage biotech company, where he is focused on finance, operations, staffing and project management; and an Advisor to Blue Marble Capital Partners, a Climate Tech PE fund, where he is focused on fund raising, portfolio company Board and leadership effectiveness, and operational management.
From 2012 – 2018, Chris was CEO of a publicly listed Climate Tech micro-cap company where he established a new Board of Directors; and was Founder/CEO of a privately owned Climate Tech company. In both roles his focus was on strategy, business models, fund raising, and shareholder communication.
From 2008 – 2012, Chris was Chief of Staff and GM Corporate Services at Applied Materials. He led the global HR function with executive management responsibility for the Board Compensation Committee. He supported the CEO on consolidation of CEO and Chairman roles and established a new governance framework for the Board. He worked on M&A strategy and was instrumental in the integration of acquisitions.
Prior to this, Chris was a Partner at Hay Group (now part of Korn Ferry) where he undertook several operational roles including Head of Business Development Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and established the Middle East office in Dubai. His signature clients were Philips Electronics where he advised the former CEO on Board effectiveness, and people/organizational challenges on the transformational journey to become “One Philips”; and he advised the current CEO of Philips Electronics on top team effectiveness, organizational strategy, and the spin out and establishment of NXP.
Chris is Chair Emeritus of the Stanford Cancer Council. During his tenure as Chair and Chair Emeritus, the Cancer Council raised more than $400M for the Stanford Cancer Institute. He is a former member of the Advisory Board of the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship and a former member of the Advisory Board for the Santa Clara University Business School.
Previously, Chris spent 5 years in the UK Special Forces leading covert anti-terrorist operations. He has MBA from Warwick University, UK.