Iris Henries served as the Senior Vice President for Global Brand and Strategic Communications at Catalyst.  She led brand, communications, media relations, design, editorial, and strategic engagement initiatives for Catalyst. Iris has over 20 years of experience helping organizations in the non-profit and private sectors to define, distinguish, market, communicate, and build their brands for greater impact.

Prior to joining Catalyst, Iris was the Associate Dean, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Columbia Business School, where she led brand, marketing, internal and external communications, media, and public relations. She spearheaded the development and launch of new brand positioning and messaging frameworks resulting in more cohesive, differentiated, integrated, and effective marketing and communications; advanced brand building and digital marketing and communications; elevated thought leadership communications; and supported fundraising initiatives.

In the private sector, Iris directed brand strategy, marketing, communications, strategic planning, business strategy, and operations—with P&L accountability—for a diverse portfolio of multimillion-dollar Fortune 500 CPG and OTC businesses. She started up new centers of excellence in multicultural marketing, consumer promotion, and 360 integrated marketing communications at Pfizer Consumer Healthcare (formerly Wyeth Consumer Healthcare).

Iris has a BA in Biology and MBA from Rutgers University. Her personal mission is to help individuals and organizations achieve their full potential.