Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has announced a restructuring of its public affairs and corporate communications team.

The changes, first reported by MM&M sibling publication PR Week, follow the retirement of Nancy Walker, J&J’s former vice president of global pharmaceutical communications, the promotion of Anthony Carter from VP corporate communications to chief diversity officer, and the March 2009 retirement of Dave Swearingen. The new team will absorb Carter and Walker’s duties, as well as Swearingen’s upon his retirement, according to J&J.

In an internal notice distributed on October 3, the company announced that senior communication leaders would be linked directly with stakeholder groups. Under the new organization, six vice presidents (listed below) will report to Ray Jordan, vice president of public affairs and corporate communication:

 

  • Sarah Colamarino, VP, corporate communication, will be responsible for strategic communication and publications framework, as well as production of the company’s annual report and the annual meeting of shareholders.
  • Jeff Leebaw, VP, corporate communication, will be responsible for global media relations and communication strategy for the finance function. Leebaw’s group supports the chairman’s office, the financial and investor relations functions and J&J’s operating companies in managing media aspects of issues that may impact the company’s performance and reputation.
  • Pat Molino, VP, public affairs and corporate citizenship, will be responsible for protecting and enhancing the reputation of J&J as a trustworthy corporate citizen and constructive partner in addressing social, environmental and policy issues.
  • Susan Odenthal, VP, corporate communication, is responsible for communication strategy in support of the office of strategy and growth, including corporate development/J&J development corporation, the corporate office of science and technology, and other corporate equity programs.
  • Craig Rothenberg, VP, corporate communication, is responsible for global employee and executive communication, communication support for the global human resources function, HR council and office of diversity and inclusion, and global talent development for public affairs and corporate communications.
  • Dave Swearingen, VP, corporate communications, will retire – as previously mentioned – in March of 2009, but will be tasked with helping to ensure an effective transition of his responsibilities, which include executive training on crisis and issues management, communication career development initiatives, shared communication services, and video-based social media, including the J&J health channel on YouTube.com.

 

All appointments were effective October 1, 2008, according to the company notice, except for Colamarin, who will join the company November 3, 2008.