Seema Kumar

As Global Head, Office of Innovation, Global Health and Scientific Engagement, Seema works at the intersection of science, media, business, and society to expand Johnson & Johnson's leadership as a champion of science and a global health authority. She leads global efforts to enhance public engagement with science, leveraging creative arts to build trust and advance good science and public health policy. Seema is also responsible for Johnson & Johnson's overall innovation reputation, for positioning the Johnson & Johnson R&D pipeline, and for leading the company's COVID vaccine communications and external affairs efforts.

In addition, Seema serves as a science, innovation, and public health ambassador for Johnson & Johnson to organizations including the World Economic Forum, the Gates CEO Roundtable, the New York Academy of Sciences, and other partners, where she represents the company's scientific engagement efforts and its commitment to diversity and inclusion in science and technology. A key strategic partner for Johnson & Johnson's Executive Vice President, Chief External Innovation, Medical Safety and Global Public Health Officer and Executive Committee member Bill Hait, Seema is a member of the R&D Management Committee and a member of the Global Corporate Affairs Leadership Team.

Previously, Seema drove Pharmaceutical R&D communication with the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. She was the chief communications officer at the Whitehead Institute/Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Genome Research, where she played a key role in enhancing worldwide public awareness and understanding of the Human Genome Project. In addition, she worked with the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.

A passionate advocate for science and women’s empowerment, Seema has published hundreds of news and feature articles on these topics. She serves on several boards and advisory committees.