David E. Collins, former chairman of Johnson & Johnson’s McNeil Consumer Products, played a crucial role during the 1982 Tylenol poisoning crisis. This incident, involving cyanide-laced capsules, led to several deaths in the Chicago area and remains unsolved. Collins emerged as the public face of the company during this crisis, countering calls for an outright ban on Tylenol as proposed by Chicago’s then-Mayor Jane Byrne. Under his leadership, the company not only regained its market share but also became a case study in effective crisis management.
Born in 1934 in Oak Park, Collins was raised in the western suburb and graduated from Fenwick High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1956 and a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1959. His early career included a position at the New York City law firm Shearman & Sterling before joining Johnson & Johnson in 1962. Over the years, he held several roles, including corporate secretary and general counsel, eventually becoming chairman of McNeil Consumer Products.
Roger Fine, a retired general counsel at Johnson & Johnson, described Collins as a natural leader. Fine highlighted Collins’ smart, warm, and friendly demeanor, noting he led by inspiration rather than command. In 1978, Collins took on a general management role as president of McNeil Consumer Products and extended his oversight to several Latin American subsidiaries.
During the 1982 Tylenol crisis, Collins took immediate action by relocating to Chicago to address the situation firsthand. He forged partnerships with local law enforcement and demonstrated transparency by providing lists of potentially relevant company personnel and unsatisfied customers to aid the investigation. In media appearances, he emphasized Johnson & Johnson’s commitment to consumer safety and gained support from stakeholders.
The introduction of tamper-proof packaging and retaining the Tylenol brand name were pivotal decisions. By 1983, Tylenol’s market share had rebounded significantly. Collins reflected on this challenging period, noting that it transformed into a triumph for him and the company.
In 1986, Collins became vice chairman of public affairs and planning at Johnson & Johnson before retiring in 1988. He later served as president of a new division at Schering-Plough Healthcare, consolidating the firm’s consumer products. Retiring in 1994, he went on to teach at prestigious institutions like the University of California, Davis; the University of Notre Dame; and Dartmouth University.
Collins remained active on several boards, including Align Technology, contributing to their growth and intellectual property strategies. Former Align President and CEO Thomas Prescott praised Collins for his invaluable guidance during pivotal times.
David Collins passed away from leukemia complications on September 22 at his home in Palm Desert, California. He leaves behind his wife Judy, sons Pat and Paul, daughter Ann Cazalot, six grandchildren, and siblings Chas, Eddie, and Penny. Services will be private.