Kevin Sharer was elected Amgen's chief executive officer in May 2000. Sharer is the third CEO in Amgen's history. He became the company's third chairman of the board in January 2001.

Sharer joined Amgen in October 1992 as president, chief operating officer and member of the board of directors.

Before joining Amgen, Sharer was executive vice president and president of the Business Markets Division at MCI Communications. Prior to MCI, he served in a variety of executive capacities at General Electric, and was a consultant for McKinsey & Company.

Sharer received a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1970, a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval postgraduate school in 1971, and also earned a master's degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh in 1982. Sharer served on two nuclear attack submarines following graduation from Annapolis.

Sharer serves on the board of directors of 3M, Northrop Grumman, UNOCAL and the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation. He is chairman of the board of trustees of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History and a member of The Business Council.