Robert T. Zito

Senior Vice President, Corporate and Business Communications, and Chief Communications Officer

Bob Zito leads strategic communications with a focus on building the Bristol-Myers Squibb corporate brand. He also oversees the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation.

Bob has guided the successful Together we can prevail brand campaign, which focuses on Bristol-Myers Squibb’s mission to help patients prevail against serious disease. Kate Jackson, Lynn Redgrave, Lou DiMaggio and other survivors, some famous, some not, tell their equally powerful and intimate stories in television spots and Web videos.

“Capturing the emotion of that partnership, and that struggle, is at the center of our company’s mission,” Bob says. "The work the people of this company do every day and the difference it makes to people with serious diseases is inspiring."

A former sports writer, Bob coaches his team to use a storytelling approach to effectively communicate the mission, news and philanthropy of the company. His team includes public relations, marketing communications, advertising, the Internet, internal communications and philanthropy. "We have a lot of great stories to tell about our past, and the future is even more exciting as we transform into a leading next-generation BioPharma company."

Before joining Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2004, Bob worked in the entertainment and financial industries. As Sony’s vice president of corporate communications from 1990 to 1994, he rebranded the company as a global entertainment organization following Sony’s purchase of both CBS Records and Columbia Pictures.

Then, during a 10-year career as executive vice president of the New York Stock Exchange, he was credited with building the NYSE’s brand into one of the most respected in the world. He also devised the strategy of using the opening and closing bells as televised news events, and allowed networks to broadcast from the trading floor.

After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Bob joined the board of the FDNY Foundation. He helped found the NYSE Fallen Heros Fund and is a founding member of Cento Amici, a non-profit group that provides scholarships to New Jersey students. A native of Bayonne, New Jersey, Bob graduated from St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City and later established a scholarship for students from his hometown in his father’s memory.

Bob earned his bachelor's degree from Fairfield University and completed Harvard's Advanced Management Program in International Studies. He is married, has three daughters, and on weekends he and his family can be found on the soccer field watching his youngest daughter compete.

May, 2008