Home / PDA Industry and Honor Award Winners / Award Winner

Award Winner (Service Appreciation Award) 2024: Leo S. Posner, Ph.D.

Leo S. Posner, Ph.D.

Johnson & Johnson

This recognition is meaningful to me, not only as a professional in the field but as someone who has always been passionate about advancing industry standards, fostering collaboration, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. Beyond professional achievement, this honor holds personal significance as well. It reflects the dedication and passion I have poured into leading one of PDA’s chapters, the relationships built along the way, and the shared mission of ensuring the highest quality and safety standards in everything we do. I am grateful to PDA for this recognition and inspired to continue contributing to the industry and the chapter that has given me so much.
What inspires me most in my work is the opportunity to contribute to the development of life-saving medicines for those who truly need them. Knowing that the work I am a part of directly impacts patients’ lives fuels my passion and commitment every day. Moving forward, this award will enhance my work by expanding my platform to advocate for best practices, regulatory advancements, and workforce development initiatives. It provides an opportunity to engage more deeply with industry and health authorities, share insights, and contribute to shaping the future of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Additionally, it reinforces my commitment to mentoring and supporting the next generation of professionals, ensuring that we continue to elevate quality, safety, and efficiency across the industry.
Industry recognition plays a crucial role in professional development, opening doors for networking, mentorship, and leadership opportunities. It provides a platform to strengthen impactful work, inspire future generations, and drive meaningful change across the industry. More importantly, it highlights the dedication and expertise of those working behind the scenes to ensure product quality, patient safety, and regulatory compliance.
My near-term professional goals are to continue focusing on driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and contributing to industry advancements that enhance product quality and patient safety.

About Leo S. Posner, Ph.D.

Leo currently serves as the Quality Head for Johnson & Johnson's Small Molecule Stability Hub. In this role, he oversees the quality function across multiple sites, ensuring operations meet global regulatory expectations while maintaining consistency and compliance. His leadership supports the stability and quality of small molecule pharmaceutical and consumer products.

Leo was Franchise Director for External Manufacturing – Medical Devices Source Quality, where he led quality initiatives for DePuySynthes and Endosurgery franchises. He played a pivotal role in developing, implementing, and improving quality processes for External Manufacturers. Leo also served as Regional Director for the Synthes Supplier Quality organization, overseeing supplier management, development, and process validation. During his tenure, he successfully closed regulatory gaps, facilitated multiple regulatory inspections for MDSAP certification, and led the Partner Integration Pillar to enhance internal processes.

He has held leadership roles supporting J&J's Consumer portfolio, including Director of External Manufacturing Quality Assurance at McNeil Consumer Healthcare and Site Quality Leader for McNeil’s Lancaster, PA facility.

Leo holds a BS in Chemistry, a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, and an MBA in Operations Management. He is also a graduate of J&J's Executive Quality Leadership Development Program.