Draft:Sally Susman

Sally Susman (born 1961) is an American corporate affairs executive, board director and author. She served as Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of pharmaceutical company Pfizer from 2008 until 2026, where she directed the company's communications, government relations, investor relations and corporate responsibility functions and played a role in Pfizer's public communications during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is the author of Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts and Change the World (Harvard Business Review Press, 2023). Susman serves on the boards of UL Solutions, FGS Global and Flutter Entertainment, and is a senior advisor to MTS Health Partners.

Early life and education

Susman is the daughter of Louis B. Susman, an American lawyer and investment banker who served as United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom under President Barack Obama, and Marjorie Susman. She grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in government from Connecticut College, where she delivered the 2023 commencement address, and also studied at the London School of Economics.

Career

Early career in government and business

Early in her career, Susman worked in Washington, D.C., as a legislative assistant for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and later as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs at the United States Department of Commerce, focusing on international trade. She subsequently worked at American Express, where she served as Vice President, European Corporate Affairs and Communications, from 1995 to 2000.

Estée Lauder

Susman later joined The Estée Lauder Companies, where she was Executive Vice President of Global Communications, leading corporate affairs strategy for the company and its brands and serving on its executive committee.

Pfizer

Susman joined Pfizer in 2008. She served in senior corporate affairs roles during her tenure, ultimately becoming Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. In that position, she oversaw functions including communications, corporate responsibility, global policy, government relations, patient advocacy and investor relations. During her tenure, Susman managed communications through several Pfizer chief executive transitions and played a role in the company's communications strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic, including communications surrounding Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. In 2012, media and advocacy coverage discussed Susman's involvement in Pfizer's international lobbying concerning pharmaceutical patents and pricing and her role as a fundraising bundler for President Obama's re-election campaign. In July 2025, Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla announced that Susman would leave the company as part of a restructuring in which the corporate affairs function's responsibilities were distributed among other business units. Her departure took effect in early 2026 after approximately 18 years at Pfizer. She continues to serve on the board of directors of The Pfizer Foundation.

Post-Pfizer board and advisory roles

Susman has served as a non-executive director of UL Solutions since May 2022. According to the company's 2026 proxy statement, she serves on its Human Capital and Compensation Committee and Nominating Committee. In 2026, she joined the Global Executive Board of FGS Global as an independent board member. Effective May 2026, she also joined the board of Flutter Entertainment as a non-executive director. She also serves as a senior advisor to MTS Health Partners. Susman previously served as a non-executive director of WPP plc and Equity Office Properties Trust.

Writing

Susman is the author of Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts and Change the World (Harvard Business Review Press, 2023), a book drawing on her career in corporate communications, including her experience during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The book received coverage in publications including Forbes, Børsen and La Presse. She has written essays and columns for publications including Time and the Harvard Business Review on topics including communication and leadership.

Recognition

Susman has received industry honors and recognition during her career. She received the Matrix Award from New York Women in Communications and was named PRWeek's Best In-House Pro of the Past 20 Years. Forbes included Susman on its lists of influential chief marketing officers and "50 Over 50." She was ranked No. 10 on PRWeek's U.S. Power List in 2024 and was included in PRovoke Media's Influence 100 that year. Crain's New York Business named Susman to its 2024 list of Notable LGBTQIA+ Leaders, citing her role in Pfizer's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was also named an Aspen Institute Act III Leadership and Legacy Laureate.

Civic and nonprofit involvement

Susman is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She serves on the boards of the New York Public Library and The Church, an arts nonprofit in Sag Harbor, New York, and is associated with the International Rescue Committee, where she has previously served as board co-chair.

Personal life

Susman lives in New York City with her wife, Robin Canter. She has written publicly about her membership in the LGBTQ+ community.

Works

Susman, Sally (2023). Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts and Change the World. Harvard Business Review Press. ISBN 978-1647823958. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)

References

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