Debra Barrett

Throughout her career, Debra has been passionate about helping others reach their full potential. As the head of Corporate Affairs, Debra is responsible for creating and advancing the overall strategy across Government Affairs, Corporate Communications, Patient Advocacy & Stakeholder Management, and Corporate Giving. Her role serves to unite the critical ongoing efforts of these teams in order to articulate a consistent narrative about Otsuka’s work and value to key external audiences, and provide a platform to help Otsuka defy limitation, so that others can too.

Prior to joining Otsuka, Debra was SVP Global Government Affairs and Public Policy at Teva Pharmaceuticals where she directed advocacy and policy development. Before joining Teva, Debra was an assignment editor at CNN involved in newsgathering around political Washington, D.C. after beginning her career working for several members in the U.S. Senate. As an active lobbyist for multiple advocacy groups and leading with an entrepreneurial spirit, Debra has dedicated her career to protecting and advancing the rights of those whose voices need to be heard.

Debra’s passion is in developing leaders as well as employees. She is constantly raising the bar by connecting and leveraging critical efforts and Otsuka-people across the enterprise with the goal of driving results that empower and motivate others. She is a certified executive coach with over 20 years of experience in training and developing others. Debra continues to drive herself to be a lifelong learner to nurture new ways to engage and reach Otsuka’s workforce.

Debra holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan and a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.