Tom Cavanaugh

Executive Vice President, Worldwide Chairman, Innovative Medicine Johnson & Johnson

Last Reviewed: October 3, 2026

Executive Summary

Tom Cavanaugh became Executive Vice President and Worldwide Chairman, Innovative Medicine at Johnson & Johnson on 1 September 2026, succeeding the retiring Jennifer Taubert and joining the company’s executive committee. He now runs J&J’s pharmaceuticals business, which the company says exceeds $60 billion in annual revenue, setting strategy for medicines in cancer, immune disorders, serious mental illness and cardiovascular disease. He joined J&J in 2017 after nearly 15 years at Celgene and most recently led its largest commercial region, North America. He began his career as a production chemist and pharmacy technician, a long way from the head of a business this large.

Career Highlights

• Executive Vice President, Worldwide Chairman, Innovative Medicine at Johnson & Johnson since 1 September 2026.
• Company Group Chairman, North America, Innovative Medicine, leading J&J’s largest commercial region.
• Senior roles in Oncology, Immunology and Global Commercial Strategy at J&J from 2017.
• Nearly 15 years at Celgene in product development, medical affairs, marketing and general management.
• Director of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization.

Professional Journey

Cavanaugh earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at North Carolina State University and began his career as a production chemist and pharmacy technician, according to his J&J biography.

He spent nearly 15 years at Celgene, in global product development, global medical affairs, global and regional marketing, and general management roles in Spain and the United States.

He joined Johnson & Johnson in 2017 and held senior leadership positions in oncology, immunology and global commercial strategy. He then became company group chairman for North America in Innovative Medicine, leading the company’s largest commercial region, where J&J says he drove growth, strengthened execution and developed talent.

On 4 August 2026 J&J announced that Jennifer Taubert would retire as executive vice president and worldwide chairman of Innovative Medicine and that Cavanaugh would succeed her, joining the executive committee on 1 September 2026. He now leads the Innovative Medicine Group Operating Committee and the global strategy for a portfolio and pipeline of medicines for cancer, immune-related disorders, serious mental illness and cardiovascular disease, working with John Reed, who leads Innovative Medicine research and development. Outside J&J he serves on the board of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, the biotechnology industry’s trade association.

His predecessor, Jennifer Taubert, had led the sector since 2018 after joining J&J in 2005; under her, J&J says, Innovative Medicine grew to more than $60 billion in annual revenue. In announcing the change, the company said Cavanaugh brings nearly three decades of biopharmaceutical experience across therapeutic areas, functions and geographies, and that the two would work together on a smooth transition.

Education

North Carolina State University

Bachelor’s degree, Chemistry