EVP, policy, external affairs and communications, Pfizer
Sally Susman, the head of communications at the world's largest bio-pharma company, led the second restructuring in two years of Pfizer's in-house communications, the announcement of which corresponded with the June departure of longtime VP of external affairs Ray Kerins. The company is merging his external communications unit and the business communications team run by Mary Lou Ambrus, SVP of communications – with the goal of becoming a leaner unit as the company loses significant revenue following the expiration of its Lipitor patent.
In the coming months, the company is planning to launch campaigns to get consumers to embrace the idea of aging. It is also preparing for an IPO for its animal health unit.
The company faced some heat in late 2011 over racy Chapstick ads, which it subsequently pulled, but fanned the flames by deleting negative comments about the ads on its Facebook page.
Susman has also been making news over the last several months for her work on the political scene as she's been cited as one of President Barack Obama's chief fundraisers, reportedly raising more than $500,000 for his re-election.
