Cristal N. Downing is executive vice president and chief communications & public affairs officer of Merck & Co., Inc., one of the world’s largest biopharmaceutical companies. Downing reports directly to Merck Chairman & CEO Robert M. Davis and leads Merck’s Corporate Affairs organization. Downing is responsible for global communications, public affairs, global government policy & affairs, environmental, social, and governance (ESG), health equity, and philanthropic efforts.

Since joining the company, Downing has been a trusted executive advisor to Merck’s CEO and board of directors, a strategic business leader and collaborator with her executive team peers, and a passionate driver of enhanced and elevated performance across the company’s businesses and functions. She has skillfully, thoughtfully, and effectively strategized, counseled, and navigated significant company and industry events, eliminating and managing risk, while maintaining stakeholder confidence and safeguarding the company’s reputation and credibility.

During her tenure, Merck has been recognized as one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies” by Fortune magazine; one of the “Best Companies for ESG” by Barron’s; one of Reptrak’s 100 Most Reputable Companies; one of Fortune Magazine’s “Change the World” companies; and one of Newsweek’s “Most Responsible Companies,” ranking #1 in Healthcare & Life Sciences. Downing has also received notable industry honors and recognitions for her leadership at Merck. Most recently she was honored as one of PR Week’s 25 Women of Distinction. Additionally, she has been named one of PRWeek’s 30 Top Healthcare Influencers; Women Inc. magazine’s 2022 Most Influential Women Executives in Corporate America; and Savoy magazine’s 2022 Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America. 

Before joining Merck, Downing spent eight years in roles of increasing responsibility at Johnson & Johnson. In her most expansive role, she served as vice president, Communications & Public Affairs, Medical Devices. During her J&J tenure, she and colleagues confronted the Ebola and HIV epidemics, the Opioid crisis, talcum powder issues, and COVID-19. She also co-led the development and implementation of “Our Race to Health Equity” — Johnson & Johnson’s innovative and distinguished Racial & Social Justice strategy and program. Before Johnson & Johnson, she held strategic business and communications roles at ITT and several Fortune 100 Financial Services companies including JP Morgan Chase/Washington Mutual, Wells Fargo, and American Express.

Downing is a member of several premier business and communication associations, including Fortune’s Most Powerful Women, the Arthur Page Society, World 50 Communications, and Chief’s C-Suite Peer Group. She is also a member of the board of trustees for the Ronald McDonald House of Central & Northern New Jersey. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Monmouth University.