Johnson & Johnson executive chosen to lead Fisher College of Business

Christine A. Poon, one of the nation’s top executives in the pharmaceutical industry, has been named dean of Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business, effective April, 2009. She will also hold the John W. Berry Sr. Chair in Business.

Christine A. Poon

Poon becomes the first dean for Fisher to come directly from the private sector. She replaces Joseph A. Alutto, who became Ohio State provost in 2007.

Poon will join the university after a 30-year career in the health care industry, most recently as vice chairman and member of the board of Johnson & Johnson and worldwide chair of the Pharmaceuticals Group. In these roles she provided oversight for pharmaceuticals, which generated $24.9 billion, representing approximately 41 percent of the company’s total sales revenues in 2007.

Her areas of expertise include domestic and international business operations and sales and marketing. At Johnson & Johnson she was responsible for managing the pharmaceutical, consumer pharmaceutical and nutritional businesses, in addition to overseeing the expanding pharmaceutical research pipeline. In September 2008, Poon announced her retirement from Johnson & Johnson effective March 1, 2009.

“Christine Poon brings a remarkable record of leadership and innovation and has a deep understanding of the value that research brings to our economy. We are fortunate to have her expertise at Ohio State,” said President E. Gordon Gee. “Her extensive professional experience will enrich and enliven our faculty and their work with students as well as bring new opportunities to foster external partnerships.”

Poon has been recognized as Business Leader of the Future by CNBC/Wall Street Journal in 2005. She has consistently ranked among Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in Business.

Prior to Johnson & Johnson, she spent 15 years at Bristol-Myers Squibb, where she held leadership positions including president of international medicines and president of medical devices.

“Chris’s vast, global experience, demonstrated business acumen, and a deep commitment to innovation and scientific research and development will be invaluable assets for our faculty, students, staff and Fisher’s large array of constituents,” Alutto said. “Especially given the current international financial and market crises, Chris’s leadership, expertise and experience will have an enormous positive impact that will help guide the direction of Fisher, the university, and ultimately, Ohio’s economy and beyond.”

“Early in my career I experienced the thrill of translating basic research ideas into products and services that could make a real difference to global health and wellness. I am eager to work with the world-class faculty and exceptional students at Fisher, who are perfectly positioned to identify the ideas and execute the business strategies that will contribute to Ohio and the nation’s economic recovery,” Poon said.

Born in Missouri and raised in Cincinnati, Poon earned an M.B.A. in finance from Boston University, an M.S. in biology/biochemistry from St. Louis University, and a B.A. in biology from Northwestern University. She is on the board of directors of Prudential Financial, Inc., in Newark, N.J., and the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. She is a past member of the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Institute of Technology.