BOSTON — Thomas Crampton, the former digital head at Edelman and Social@Ogilvy, has joined growing biotech player Greenlight Biosciences in the newly-created role of corporate affairs SVP.

Crampton, who left Edelman one year ago, joins GreenLight from the Commons Project Foundation, where he was chief marketing and communications officer. 

He joins Greenlight amid surging interest in RNA vaccines. "Regulatory approvals last year moved RNA vaccines from the realm of scientific theory to medical reality and made them a core tool to combat the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Charles Cooney, chairman of GreenLight’s board. "Thomas brings the strategic experience, global outlook and leadership skills to scale GreenLight’s ambition to match the transformative potential for RNA in life sciences, agriculture and beyond.'

Crampton, who will report to GreenLight CEO and co-founder Andrey Zarur, will lead strategy for marketing, communications and government affairs.  Last year, GreenLight raised more than $100m to accelerate efforts around a Covid-19 vaccine and messenger RNA manufacturing. Founded in 2008, the Boston-based company has raised $250m to date.

"Thomas will ensure that we effectively communicate our mission of applying science to solve the world's biggest challenges, engaging with investors, partners, regulators, customers and the general public," said Andrey Zarur, GreenLight's president and CEO.

Prior to Edelman, Crampton spent almost a decade with Ogilvy, where he oversaw the Social@Ogilvy division and led the marketing transformation practice of the agency's global consulting arm. He arrived at the agency after a lengthy career as a journalist, for the IHT and New York Times, among others.

“Decades of advances in biology, computing and engineering have converged to open a historic moment when we can harness new technologies for the benefit of society and the planet,” said Crampton. "It is an honor to join a mission-driven team so uniquely positioned to scale RNA technology in ways that benefit the world."

Crampton remains a trustee of the the Commons Project Foundation, where he he led the launch of data-sharing platforms and also worked on the CommonTrust Network, run in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the US-focused Vaccination Credential Initiative. He remains based in London for now, working remotely via Zoom.