Karen Boykin-Towns

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Rising to the top of Pfizer's ranks Karen Boykin-Towns has built a reputation, based on demonstrated success, of being a strategic results driver operating in complex business and government environments. Currently Ms. Boykin-Towns serves as Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Pfizer Innovative Health and leads all of its public affairs, government relations, policy and communication efforts around the globe. Pfizer Innovative Health consists of the following groups: Consumer Health, Inflammation & Immunology, Internal Medicine, Oncology, Rare Disease and Vaccines all committed to changing the outcome of chronic conditions and devastating diseases around the world. Everything done is to ensure that people have a chance to live longer, get stronger and lead more vibrant lives.

 

Mrs. Boykin-Towns' career at Pfizer Inc spans 20 years where she has held leadership roles in government relations, public affairs and global policy. She has the distinction of having served as the company's first Chief Diversity Officer. In that role she was instrumental in implementing a global strategy that resulted in the company being recognized as leveraging diversity and inclusion as a competitive advantage in its operations in over 100 countries. Immediately before joining Pfizer Mrs. Boykin-Towns' was involved in government and politics serving as the Deputy Director of the New York State Senate Democratic Conference. She was recruited into government service by her local Senator David Paterson where she worked as his Legislative Director and later Chief of Staff. He went on to become the 55th Governor of the State of New York.

 

Despite her demanding professional responsibilities Mrs. Boykin-Towns uses her talents in support of a very active civic life. As a life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) she serves as a member of the National Board of Directors, Chairman of its National Health Committee and President Emeritus of the Brooklyn, NY Branch. She is also co-chairman of the Business Council of New York State, and serves on the boards of Friends of Thirteen Public Television, and Brewster Academy. Recently, Savoy Magazine named Karen one of their 2016 “Top Influential Women in Corporate America”.

 

Mrs. Boykin-Towns obtained her MBA degree from Baruch College/Zicklin School of Business of the City University of New York (CUNY) as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Mount Saint Vincent where she graduated with honors. Over the years Karen has been recognized with many awards and accolades and has been featured in publications such as BusinessWeek, Crain's, Diversity Inc and the Network Journal to name a few. Mrs. Boykin-Towns is married to Darryl C. Towns and they reside in Brooklyn, NY with their two daughters Jasmine and Trinity.