Currently working as U.S. President of Janssen Oncology at Johnson & Johnson, Tyrone Brewer graduated from TCNJ in 1991 with a B.S. in Marketing. Tyrone boasts over thirty years of experience in the healthcare industry in areas such as Pain, Anti-infectives, Biologics, Respiratory, Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Gastrointestinal, Nephrology, Migraine, and now leads Janssen’s U.S. commercial Oncology business, which provides health care professionals and their patients with treatment options for patients with certain blood cancers and solid-tumor cancers. In this role and as a member of the Janssen Americas Leadership Team, Tyrone is responsible for continually advancing the company’s oncology portfolio and helping the team deliver for patients, giving people the gift of more time—more milestones, more birthdays and graduations and weddings and time with their families and kids and grandkids. Before joining J&J, Tyrone spent twelve years at Merck in various roles, most recently as President of U.S. Oncology.
While a student at TCNJ, Tyrone took particular interest in his marketing courses, explaining how they “helped [him] learn the difference between marketing and advertising. With Marketing, you have the opportunity to be a general manager who’s running a business instead of just being part of the business.” Tyrone was also a member of the men’s basketball team, which he says provided valuable life lessons beyond athletics, like the importance of hard work, stamina, competitiveness, and teamwork–all skills Tyrone leverages in his day-to-day professional career. Of his college experience on the whole, Tyrone says his “education at TCNJ was foundational for everything that came after it. I needed a degree in marketing or a similar field for my first sales jobs, and those roles set me on the path that led me to where I am today.”
When asked what advice he has for current TCNJ students, Tyrone recommended to “think broadly about your career development instead of thinking about chasing a role or title” and “don’t spend your time comparing yourself to someone else’s life or career. Embrace and enjoy your moment, journey, and what you’re doing.” Similarly, if he could tell his past self something, it would be “don’t let fear or worry hold you back. You belong! Continue to bet on yourself. Your work ethic, principles, leadership, and willingness to help others will serve you well.”
Today, Tyrone resides in Bridgewater, New Jersey, with his wife, Debbie; together they are proud parents of three daughters: Tiffany (26), Alexis (25), and Sonya (20). Although he used to spend much of his time chasing them around, coaching, and going to their sporting events, now that they’re older, you can find Tyrone on the golf course, exercising, and spending time with Debbie.
