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| Cristal Downing |
Cristal Downing, who was VP-communications & PA at Johnson & Johson’s medical devices division, will join Merck Aug. 16 as chief communications and PA officer, a new post.
Earlier at J&J, Downing was VP-global finance communications, where she helped develop and implement PA and strategies to support the CFO and CEO.
She also co-led the “Our Race to Health Equity” platform, which is J&J’s racial & social push.
During her more than 20-year career, Downing served as corporate communications director at ITT, marketing consultant at Wells Fargo, first VP-strategic planning at JPMorgan Chase and director at American Express Technologies.
Merck CEO Rob Davis called Downing “a transformational leader with a well-established track record.”
He said in a statement that Downing’s experience, integrity and leadership capabilities “will be invaluable as we drive productive conversations and strategic impact with a broad range of stakeholders, double down on our promising pipeline and work to accelerate delivery of our vital innovations to the world.”
Jim Weiss, founder & chairman of Real Chemistry, has joined the board of ICR Inc. as it steps up its healthcare capital markets offering.
Ruder Finn has hired Kelly Yoder, who spent a dozen years at Weber Shandwick rising to North America health lead, as managing director, global head of health & life sciences.
ICR has named John Capodanno head of US healthcare corporate communications and Matthew Willey managing director in its medical technology and diagnostics practice. 
April is National Minority Health Month, spotlighting the urgency to improve health outcomes in communities of color.
In a recent conversation about the evolving media landscape, Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, spoke with Campbell O’Connor, Group Director, Media & Engagement at Real Chemistry, about how AI is influencing media relations and healthcare communications.
