Heather Connor is a global communications leader with deep experience and expertise across the spectrum of the healthcare and biopharma industries. As Global Head of Healthcare Communications for Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Heather provides strategic leadership in strengthening the global reputation of the company’s Healthcare business; in engaging employees; and in contributing to the vision and values of the organization. She serves as a member of the Healthcare Executive Committee and Business Partner to the Healthcare CEO. She is also a member of the Global Communications Leadership Team. Through Heather’s tenure with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, she’s led a diverse, global team of more than 70 people, taking pride in working with those around her towards the shared vision of having a positive impact on the lives and well-being of people facing serious disease. Heather is a values-based leader whose passion and purpose-driven approach translate into high performance within her team and results for the overall business. She holds the art of listening and receiving and sharing feedback to the highest regard, with the goal of always assuming good intent to solve problems and deliver meaningful value. Heather is a champion of growth and development within the company, and takes great energy from the accomplishments and successes of those whose career path she has the privilege to impact. From therapy approvals, to crisis communications, to employee engagement, Heather has led and executed strategic communications across the full portfolio of the global Healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Heather previously served as Head of Global R&D and Business Development Communications, leading the visibility and recognition of the company’s early and late stage portfolio and improving the reputation of R&D efforts across internal and external stakeholders. Heather has been with the company for 21 years in positions of increasing responsibilities. Heather is a working mother, who strives every day to master the art of multi-tasking across many dimensions to a high degree of quality and success—while often the balancing act doesn’t quite work out as planned, her tenacity is ever-present. In order to keep her wits about her even under the toughest of pressures, Heather is an avid runner who finds peace while pounding the pavement. And, she is very happy to be a “hockey mom” to her son and daughter, both of whom love life on the ice.