HARRY M. JANSEN KRAEMER, JR.
- Executive Partner, Madison Dearborn
- Clinical Professor of Management and Strategy, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
- Former Chairman and CEO of Baxter International, Deerfield, Ill.
Harry M. Jansen Kraemer, Jr. is an executive partner with Madison Dearborn, a private equity firm based in Chicago, Ill., and a clinical professor of management and strategy at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He was recognized in 2008 as the Kellogg School Professor of the Year. He is the author of the 2011 leadership book entitled “From Values to Action: The Four Principles of Values-Based Leadership.”
He is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Baxter International Inc., a $10 billion global healthcare company. He became Baxter's chief executive officer in January 1999, and assumed the additional responsibility of chairman of Baxter’s board of directors in January 2000.
Kraemer joined Baxter in 1982 as director of corporate development. His twenty three year career at Baxter included senior positions in both domestic and international operations. In 1993, he was named senior vice president and chief financial officer, responsible for financial operations, business development, global communications, and European operations. Over the next several years, he assumed additional responsibility for Baxter’s Renal and Medication Delivery businesses. He was elected to Baxter’s board of directors in 1995, and was named president of Baxter International Inc. in 1997.
Prior to Baxter, Kraemer worked for Bank of America in corporate banking and for Northwest Industries in planning and business development.
Kraemer is active in business, education and civic affairs. He serves on the board of directors of Science Applications International Corporation, Sirona Dental Systems GmbH and VWR International, Inc. and on the board of trustees of Lawrence University (former chairman), Northwestern University, The Conference Board and NorthShore University Healthsystem (serving as chairman).
He is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, the Dean’s Advisory Board of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Advisory Board of LEK Consulting. He is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the Executives Club of Chicago and the Economics Club of Chicago. He is a past member of the Business Roundtable, the Business Council and the Healthcare Leadership Council.
Kraemer graduated summa cum laude from Lawrence University in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics. He earned an MBA degree in finance and accounting from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in 1979 and is a certified public accountant. For his outstanding leadership and service, he received the 1996 Schaffner Award from the Kellogg School of Management.
He enjoys jogging, tennis, skiing and reading, especially world civilization. Harry, his wife Julie, and their five children live in Wilmette, Ill.
