Carla Poulson is Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer for Mersana Therapeutics, a Boston-based biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of anti-body drug conjugate (ADC) therapies to treat patients fighting cancer. In this role, she oversees the human resources, real estate and facilities functions, and serves as a member of the company’s executive leadership team. Poulson joined Mersana in January 2021, with over 20 years of experience in human resources in the U.S. and Europe and has held a variety of roles at multiple large companies helping to shape a positive culture to support overall business strategy.
Prior to joining Mersana, Poulson was Chief Human Resources Officer for Akcea Therapeutics, where she helped to successfully lead the company through an acquisition by Ionis Pharmaceuticals. Before Akcea, Poulson served in multiple roles at Vertex Pharmaceuticals for over 10 years, including a 4-year expatriate assignment in Europe and ultimately as Vice President, Human Resources.
Poulson is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She holds a Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Illinois, Champaign.
