Paul Barrett

Originally from the UK, Paul holds a bachelor’s degree in media & Journalism from London’s University of Westminster and has completed executive education programs at INSEAD, IMD and the Michigan Ross School of Business. Paul began his career as a journalist with the BBC World Service in London. He has since amassed 25 years of international experience in strategic communications, investor relations, government affairs, media relations and crisis management for global companies in multiple industries, including more than a decade in shipping. Paul has worked and lived all over the world, including 12 years in Asia and the past eight in Switzerland. In that time, he also led large teams across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Africa. Paul has spent the past 10 years in the life sciences sector. From 2015 to 2019, he was Global Head of External Communications for Novartis, a top-2 global pharmaceuticals company. He was also Head of Communications for the US$31bn spin-off of Novartis’ Alcon eye care division. Before that, Paul spent six years with Syngenta, the world’s leading agricultural chemicals company. He was Head of Corporate Affairs in Southeast Asia and then Global Head of Media Relations. Prior to this, Paul worked in the shipping industry for 13 years. In that time, he was Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs for Singapore-based global container shipping group, Neptune Orient Lines. Paul was also Hong Kong Correspondent for Lloyd’s List, one of the world’s oldest continuously running newspapers, having provided shipping news since 1734.