# Peter Nicholas

> Peter Michael Nicholas (1941-2022) co-founded Boston Scientific with John Abele in 1979, served as its CEO until 1999 and remained chairman until 2016. A former naval officer and Duke and Wharton graduate, he later built Ithaka Partners with his children. With his wife Ginny, he supported Duke’s environmental programs, faculty and libraries and served as chair of its board of trustees.

- **Role:** Entrepreneur, business executive, investor and philanthropist
- **Organizations:** Boston Scientific, Ithaka Partners, Duke University, Eli Lilly and Company, Millipore Corporation, United States Navy, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Massachusetts High Technology Council
- **From:** Portsmouth, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** St. Paul’s School, BA in Economics, Duke University, MBA, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- **Known for:** Co-founded Boston Scientific and served as founding CEO for twenty years., The company reached 27,000 employees and $8.4 billion annual revenue in 2016, the year he retired from its board., With Ginny Nicholas, made the 1995 $20 million naming gift for Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment.

## Career timeline

- **1964** — Graduated from Duke and began two years of naval service.
- **1968** — Earned a Wharton MBA and joined Eli Lilly.
- **1968-1978** — Worked in sales, marketing and general management at Eli Lilly, including in Europe.
- **1978** — Worked at Millipore and formed a partnership with John Abele.
- **1979** — Co-founded Boston Scientific and became CEO and co-chairman.
- **1992** — Boston Scientific listed on the New York Stock Exchange; all employees became shareholders through a year-end stock gift.
- **1993-2005** — Served on Duke’s board of trustees.
- **1995** — Became sole chairman of Boston Scientific’s board; Pete and Ginny’s $20 million gift supported the naming of Duke’s Nicholas School.
- **1999** — Handed over CEO responsibilities and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- **2003-2005** — Chaired Duke’s board of trustees.
- **2013-2015** — Chaired the Massachusetts High Technology Council.
- **2016** — Retired from Boston Scientific’s board and became chairman emeritus.
- **After 2016** — Established family investment firm Ithaka Partners with his children.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Boston Scientific and served as founding CEO for twenty years.
- The company reached 27,000 employees and $8.4 billion annual revenue in 2016, the year he retired from its board.
- With Ginny Nicholas, made the 1995 $20 million naming gift for Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment.
- With Ginny, committed $25 million in 2002 to encourage faculty support at Duke.
- With Ginny, co-chaired the Campaign for Duke, which ultimately raised $2.36 billion.
- With Ginny, committed $72 million in December 2003, announced January 2004, for environmental programs and Perkins Library.
- Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1999.
- Received the Joseph Wharton Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
- Received Duke’s University Medal in 2021.
- Received the 2016 AdvaMed Lifetime Achievement Award with John Abele.

## Latest updates

- **2022-05** — Died on May 14 at his home in Boca Grande, Florida, aged 80.
- **2022-09** — Duke announced a $25 million Nicholas family gift supporting its Climate Commitment, including Ginny and the late Pete Nicholas and their children.

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/peter-nicholas
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-14