Amanda Hartzmark Joins AbelsonTaylor
As the agency’s new Director of Business Development and Analysis, Amanda Hartzmark will be responsible for leading AbelsonTaylor’s capable business development team and interface with all agency departments to implement a new growth plan.
Jay Carter, Executive Vice President and Director of Business Development comments, “She has the research and analytics knowledge to clearly define marketing challenges and potential solutions, the storytelling skills to communicate key insights in memorable ways, and the operations experience to ensure that deadlines are met and all deliverables meet our agency’s high standards.” Hartzmark brings over 10 years of professional marketing research and leadership experience to her new role, most recently working as a strategic analytics consultant at IRI.
AstraZeneca Exec Joe Shields Launches Health Accelerators
Joe Shields has left his position as Senior Director of Global Strategy and innovation at AstraZeneca to co-found a new B2B marketing services agency with current Think Patients CEO, Joe Meadows. The subsidiary of Think Patients was borne from Shield’s desire to provide high-quality, precision marketing services to life science suppliers, an underserved community in the pharmaceutical industry.
“We see a niche in the supplier community for high-quality, precision marketing services,” Shields explains. “What we’re trying to do is provide marketing expertise and understanding of the way pharmaceutical companies work, particularly on the commercial side.”
As President of Health Accelerators, Shields will personally manage strategy, planning, and the creative process. To do so, he will draw on years of experience in marketing and innovation roles at Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer.
Abeona Therapeutics
The clinical-stage biopharma company appointed Richard Van Duyne to its Board of Directors, where he will contribute to Abeona’s pipeline growth. Van Duyne previously served as Global Head of Business Development for Daiichi Sankyo.
AXON
Emma Lemon was promoted to the head of the London-based agency’s medical communications team. Lemon will drive significant new business efforts and lead large client accounts and teams in her new role.
Biogen
Hired Dan Karp as its Executive Vice President of Corporate Development to lead a new wave of business development and corporate strategy. Karp had served as Pfizer’s Vice President of Worldwide Business Development and Head of R&D Business Development most recently in his 13-year career at the company.
British Generic Manufacturers Association
BGMA announces Tim de Gavre as the new Chair for the next two years. He will assist U.K.-based manufacturers and suppliers of generic medicine as a leader of the association. He will continue in his role as leader of the Sandoz U.K. team while promoting the use of generics across the U.K.
Celgene
The global biopharma company has tapped Johnson & Johnson veteran David Elkins as EVP, CFO. Elkins boasts a profitable track record, having led J&J to $40 billion in revenues as VP and CFO. He’s expected to turn around Celgene’s recent sales slump and 25% stock plummet. Prior to J&J, Elkins was CFO of medical device giant Becton, Dickinson and Company.
Cognite
Vee Ragunathan was appointed Account Executive at the international strategy and communication agency, where she will play a key role in digital promotion. Ragunathan joins Cognite from Publicis Resolute.
GlaxoSmithKline
Has appointed Kevin Sin as SVP, Head of Worldwide Business Development for Pharmaceutical Research and Development. Sin is expected to strengthen the GSK pipeline and identify new medicine delivery technologies with his 20 years experience in pharma, including his time as VP and global head of Genentech.
Incisive Health
The health policy and communications consultancy appointed Maddy Farnworth as Account Manager. Farnworth uses her years of communications experience to advise clients on issues ranging from public health interventions to genomics.
Intouch Solutions
The Kansas City pharmaceutical marketing agency has promoted Chris Humphreys to take the lead as Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning. Humphreys will continue to elevate strategic planning within Intouch as he has since 2016, now while training other strategists to help the organization provide the highest level client solutions.
Horizon Discovery Group
Terry Pizzie was appointed CEO and Board Director. He joined Horizon Discovery in 2017 as Head of Commercial Operations. Prior to this, he served as Head of Global Sales at Pacific Biosciences.
Novartis
Robert Weltevreden has been appointed head of Novartis Business Services, where he is expected to drive higher levels of productivity and process standardization throughout the product pipeline. Previously, he served as Head of Business Services for Syngenta.
Novo Nordisk
Former Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Rebien Sørensen has been appointed as Novo Holdings’ new Chairman. He plans to further increase its investments in life sciences companies in the coming years. Sørensen will also become Chairman of the board of the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Prevail Therapeutics
Francois Nader, MD joins the Board of Directors of the biotechnology company focused on the development of gene therapies for patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Nader has held a number of executive leadership positions including his time at NPS Pharma and Aventis.
Sofinnova Partners
Dr. Martin Rothman joins Sofinnova Partners, a life sciences-focused European venture capital firm, as a venture partner. Dr. Rothman will help evaluate promising medical device companies as well as guide entrepreneurs and physicians launching clinical innovations. Dr. Rothman boasts 40 years experience, including his role of Vice President of Medical Affairs for coronary, structural heart, and renal denervation at Medtronic.
WA Health
The specialist portion of WA Communications appointed their senior consultant, Caroline Gordon, to Director. With more than 10 years of advising experience at companies like Incisive Health, Gordon will now lead WA’s healthcare campaigns, strategic counsel, and development of high-performing teams.
