Health Influencer 50
- 1. Theresa AgnewChief marketing officer, North America, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare1. Theresa AgnewChief marketing officer, North America, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
When GlaxoSmithKline prepared to engineer an always-tricky Rx-to-OTC transition for Flonase in 2015, the stakes were high. Flonase had been considered one of the allergy space’s hallowed brands, and there was considerable worry that mishandling the transition could scuff its veneer.
GSK’s skillful marketing work, which was as digital-heavy as all comparable efforts to date, obliterated any such doubts. “The launch was considered innovative because of our go-to-market digital approach, with a strong focus on mobile, social media, and building digital content that consumers are looking for and are engaged with,” Theresa Agnew says.
- 2. James MeyersEVP, worldwide commercial operations, Gilead Sciences2. James MeyersEVP, worldwide commercial operations, Gilead Sciences
When James Meyers was promoted into his current post late last year, his peers viewed it as the most deserved of promotions. After all, Gilead’s run over the past half decade or so prompts both impressed astonishment and acute jealousy among commercial execs at other companies.
It’s almost forgotten now that Sovaldi and Harvoni weren’t the only drugs that cured hepatitis C. They trumped the competition due in large part to Gilead’s brilliant commercialization strategy, which Meyers, then the company’s SVP of North American commercial operations, helped devise. Gilead remained the top pharma company by non-discounted U.S. sales in 2016, with its sum of $26 billion.
- 3. Donna MurphyGlobal CEO, Havas Health & You3. Donna MurphyGlobal CEO, Havas Health & You
By Marian Salzman, chairman, Global Collective and CEO, North America, Havas PR
Since Donna Murphy joined Havas Health in 1987, she has grown the organization from a one-shop healthcare agency into a global marketing powerhouse in health and well-being with more than 150 offices in 70 countries and 4,000 people.
Several years ago, Donna laid the framework for the dramatic growth of the Havas Health agencies by diversifying core competencies into related health and wellness categories. She’s also overseen and integrated more than two dozen acquisitions.
- 4. Alex KellyEVP, corporate affairs and chief communications officer, Allergan4. Alex KellyEVP, corporate affairs and chief communications officer, Allergan
By Brent Saunders, chairman, president, and CEO, Allergan
Be Bold. That is what we ask of all 18,000 global Allergan colleagues. Allergan’s Alex Kelly helped define what being bold means at the company and brings it to life in his own work every day.
Following three transformational transactions where we truly became a new company, our challenge was to find the right way to express it. Alex and senior management developed the company’s bold culture and the actions that define it: building bridges, powering ideas, acting fast, and driving results. Then Alex and his team worked on rolling out the culture.
- 5. Mike HudnallCEO, WPP Health & Wellness5. Mike HudnallCEO, WPP Health & Wellness
By Martin Sorrell, founder and CEO, WPP
When WPP launched WPP Health & Wellness in February, it was a particularly significant event: the first time in our history that an operating company had carried the WPP brand.
When it came to a CEO, we needed someone steeped not only in the complexity and potential of health and wellness — arguably one of the world’s broadest and most profoundly important business sectors — but also someone who understood the importance of “horizontality” to WPP’s strategy.
- 6. Ed WiseCEO, Omnicom Health Group6. Ed WiseCEO, Omnicom Health Group
By Joshua Prince, chief marketing officer, Omnicom Health Group (and CEO, DDB Health)
It’s one thing to lead a successful ad agency. It’s quite another to become the leader of the world’s largest healthcare-dedicated communications network, with over a dozen agency brands serving the biggest names in the biopharmaceutical business. Ed has achieved this with a relentless focus on talent, technology, and collaboration.
Ed’s passion for people — and creating strong agency cultures where talent can thrive — was profiled by Harvard Business School professor Frances Frei in her 2012 book, Uncommon Service. He’s been collecting and curating talent for more than 30 years, growing and influencing individuals, companies, and careers.
- 7. Kym WhiteGlobal chair, health sector, Edelman7. Kym WhiteGlobal chair, health sector, Edelman
By Richard Edelman, president and CEO, Edelman
When drugstore CVS was considering the elimination of tobacco products from its shelves, the person at Edelman entrusted with advising on the decision was Kym White. Her unmatched judgment, passion for improved health outcomes, and connections in academic medicine made her the perfect choice.
Kym has been a brilliant adviser to healthcare CEOs and CCOs alike, on issues ranging from pricing to access since joining Edelman in 2011 after 16 years with Ogilvy PR Worldwide. She is superb in crisis, from preparing executives for testimony on Capitol Hill to managing fallout from unfavorable clinical trials. Kym has helped push the marketing of health to online platforms, working with Edelman Digital to deliver better information to patients.
- 8. Alison LewisGlobal chief marketing officer, consumer sector, Johnson & Johnson8. Alison LewisGlobal chief marketing officer, consumer sector, Johnson & Johnson
As the first CMO of J&J’s consumer companies arm, which comprises venerable brands such as Neutrogena and Listerine, Alison Lewis has a big job. Yet one of the reasons she’s so good at it is her relentless focus on smaller opportunities.
Take Chinese skincare brand Dabao as an example. When soccer player Yu Dabao scored the winning goal in a pivotal FIFA World Cup qualifying match, the Dabao team sprang into action, leveraging the connection (there’s no relation) into a real-time digital campaign. “Global brands have to connect with today’s consumers within their own unique cultural context. The best connections also manage to seize moments that are very locally relevant,” Lewis says.
- 9. Laura SchoenPresident, global healthcare practice and chair, Latin America, Weber Shandwick9. Laura SchoenPresident, global healthcare practice and chair, Latin America, Weber Shandwick
By Josep Catlla, SVP, head of global public affairs, Sanofi
Most people spend their lives doing things to get to the next stage in their career. But I have always thought the people who leave a personal footprint in your path are those who lead not only by their actions, but also by their way of being.
Laura is one of those people. She is a seasoned PR professional who has a deep knowledge and understanding of the healthcare sector, the pharmaceutical industry, and the interconnectedness of the global healthcare ecosystem. She has done everything an executive in this sector can do.
- 10. Sally SusmanEVP, corporate affairs, Pfizer10. Sally SusmanEVP, corporate affairs, Pfizer
By Michael Kempner, CEO, MWWPR
I’ve always believed the instincts developed in politics and campaigns are highly applicable to the practice of PR, and people with that background have the combination of speed and strategy necessary for success in our business. Sally Susman is the epitome of this concept.
As the leader of all comms for the largest healthcare company in the world, Sally sits at the center of the biggest issues of public policy, public health, and public discourse.
Her ability to distill a complex challenge to its essence, prioritize stakeholder interests in real time, and design comms strategies at the highest levels is unparalleled.
- 11. Ray KerinsSVP, head of communications and government relations, Bayer11. Ray KerinsSVP, head of communications and government relations, Bayer
By Chris Loder, VP, external communications, Bayer
I first met Ray on a January afternoon in 2006. I was with the media team at Merck and Ray was our new boss. Agency guy. Yankees fan. Reagan Republican. Two out of three ain’t bad, I thought.
What struck me was not Ray’s résumé or persuasive communications skills. What impressed me immediately — and continues to today — is Ray’s authenticity.
Whether he is in a three-piece suit in the boardroom or muddy boots on the farm, Ray is as genuine as a Willie Nelson song. And it is the secret to his highly successful, award-winning career.
- 12. Dr. Scott GottliebCommissioner, Food and Drug Administration12. Dr. Scott GottliebCommissioner, Food and Drug Administration
The recently appointed FDA commissioner has hit the ground running. Since his confirmation in May, Dr. Scott Gottlieb has outlined plans to address the opioid crisis, open new regulatory pathways for digital health companies, and modernize how the agency reviews clinical trial data.
While that looks like an impossibly ambitious agenda, it isn’t when viewed through the lens of Gottlieb’s career. He served as the FDA’s deputy commissioner during the George W. Bush administration, where he worked to devise a framework for drug combinations to be used in treating HIV.
- 13. Dr. Anne BealGlobal head of patient solutions, Sanofi13. Dr. Anne BealGlobal head of patient solutions, Sanofi
Dr. Anne Beal comes at her patient-centricity very differently than her peers. After completing her residency and internship in pediatric medicine, Beal worked for a program that coordinated visits by mobile medical units to homeless children living in New York City-area shelters.
“Working with such vulnerable kids made it clear to me that those of us in the healthcare field need to ground our work in patients’ real-world experiences and be attuned to their needs,” she says. “Otherwise, we’re not likely to get much traction, in spite of our best intentions.”
- 14. Bill HinshawEVP, U.S. oncology, Novartis14. Bill HinshawEVP, U.S. oncology, Novartis
By Tom Kendris, president, Novartis Corp. and U.S. country president
It is an honor and pleasure to be among the first to congratulate Bill Hinshaw on this distinguished honor. Bill’s passion for transforming cancer care to improve and extend the lives of cancer patients inspires all of us at Novartis and reminds us why we come to work each day.
I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Bill for more than 10 years. He is a key member of my Novartis U.S. country executive committee, and we work closely together on many important policy issues. Bill’s focus on clinical innovation and providing meaningful value-based care has helped Novartis push the boundaries of science.
- 15. Deborah DiSanzoGM, IBM Watson Health15. Deborah DiSanzoGM, IBM Watson Health
IBM Watson Health has taken its share of shots in the media of late, which amounts to a natural backlash after 18 months or so of glowing mentions and hugely ambitious predictions about the company’s ability to transform medical care. It didn’t help when a partnership with the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas was terminated abruptly: The program, in which Watson’s AI was deployed to offer care recommendations and place patients into clinical trials, reportedly cost the hospital just north of $62 million.
That said, Deborah DiSanzo remains one of the industry’s most in-demand speakers and thinkers, and it’s not like pharma and device partners — including Johnson & Johnson, Novo Nordisk, Medtronic, and Teva — have abandoned ship.
- 16. Vic NobleGlobal head of brand value, Shire16. Vic NobleGlobal head of brand value, Shire
By Alexandra von Plato, global group president, comms and media, Publicis Health
“Go big” is a personal mantra for Vic Noble. And it perfectly describes how she works. For nearly 10 years, Vic has blazed trails in Shire’s gastroenterology and neuroscience units and, in 2016, helped launch Shire’s new ophthalmics franchise.
As a marketer, strategist, and innovator, Vic fearlessly reinvents categories and breaks new ground. Bigger ideas. Deeper insights. Stronger connections with her audiences. Vic leaves no stone unturned when looking for a simple, human insight. She mixes traditional research methods with innovative techniques. She studies the competitive landscape while frequently seeking out new perspectives from outside the industry.
- 17. John CahillGlobal CEO, McCann Health17. John CahillGlobal CEO, McCann Health
By Jeremy Perrott, global chief creative officer, McCann Health
Being recognized as a key influencer in one’s industry is quite an honor. And when someone has reached such a position, it’s easy to stand, highlight his achievements, and let his reputation speak for itself.
But my friend John Cahill is different.
I could talk about his in-depth knowledge of medicine — he’s a doctor of immunology — or his highly acclaimed work in public health, which has not only impacted policies in countries and governments, but also saved lives. Then there are the published articles, authoritative essays and speeches he has given everywhere from client boardrooms to the U.N.
- 18. Nick ColucciCEO, Publicis Health18. Nick ColucciCEO, Publicis Health
By Michelle Keefe, global group president and chief development officer, Publicis Health
When people ask me about Nick’s mentoring style, I always say that he teaches through storytelling. Nick will share a story about himself, then transition to explain how a lesson that he has learned applies to you. What makes Nick so unique is that he doesn’t simply share clinical Harvard Business School examples to convey his ideas, but instead he will share things that are often deeply personal.
Nick’s authenticity and transparency can sometimes put him in the position of being exposed, yet he proves time and again that he’s unafraid of being vulnerable — whether it’s in front of his leadership team or in front of summer interns. - 19. Mark KleinSVP of corporate communications, public affairs, and external relations, Dignity Health19. Mark KleinSVP of corporate communications, public affairs, and external relations, Dignity Health
By Joe Carberry, SVP, head of comms, Charles Schwab
What does it take to lead in a tumultuous industry and a company undergoing massive change? Someone with an exceptional skill set and the ability to stay remarkably calm in daunting situations. That is Mark Klein.
Mark’s point of view reflects his expansive background: political campaigns, corporate reputation, brand strategy, public affairs, litigation, labor relations, crises, and employee engagement.
- 20. Tim HawkeyEVP, managing director, executive creative director, Area 2320. Tim HawkeyEVP, managing director, executive creative director, Area 23
After his firm bagged a 2017 Cannes Healthcare Agency of the Year award and three gold MM&M awards in 2016, it’s fair to say Tim Hawkey has been on a bit of a tear. And that’s before you get into the client work, including a spate of A-list launches that include Boehringer Ingelheim’s Jardiance and GlaxoSmithKline’s Advair.
Hawkey believes Area 23’s success has been fueled in part by its embrace of what he characterizes as “holy shit” ideas, even ones his clients didn’t specifically solicit. “It’s about creating transformational experiences, and that’s where we’re taking our creative,” he says.
- 21. Larry MickelbergManaging director, life sciences agency lead, Deloitte Digital21. Larry MickelbergManaging director, life sciences agency lead, Deloitte Digital
By Andy Main, digital practice lead, Deloitte Digital
Everybody has a different reason for thinking the world of Larry. That says a lot about why he deserves this recognition.
They say he’s a game changer. Full of contagious confidence. Cutting-edge. Incredible business acumen. All-around nice guy. Friend.
Throughout his 20-plus year career, Larry has been changing games, cutting edges, and infecting everyone in his wake with confidence for the future of life sciences and healthcare marketing. He actually started his career at Deloitte in the ’90s. A few years ago, when Deloitte Digital launched the first creative digital consultancy and established a model to better bring our clients’ ambitions to life, we knew it would only be a matter of time before our worlds would converge once again.
- 22. Dr. Ron CohenPresident and CEO, Acorda Therapeutics22. Dr. Ron CohenPresident and CEO, Acorda Therapeutics
Dr. Ron Cohen came up with Acorda’s central mission — to help restore function for individuals with spinal injuries and CNS disorders — during what he refers to as a sabbatical. “I’d been working 24/7 for nearly seven years. It was a time to do some reading and thinking,” he recalls. Given Cohen’s background — he abandoned a medical fellowship to pursue being a musical-theater performer — taking a step back wasn’t out of character.
Nor is his understatement when asked about Acorda’s triumphs. “I’m just another guy with a dream about something pretty implausible,” he says. “We’re not there, but we’re getting closer.”
- 23. Jennifer ChungVP, global brand marketing, inflammation & immunology, Pfizer Innovative Health23. Jennifer ChungVP, global brand marketing, inflammation & immunology, Pfizer Innovative Health
Prior to a four-year stint at biotech startup Relypsa, Chung spent 18 years at Pfizer in a range of marketing and medical-affairs roles. So when she returned to the company in May, it was a huge boon for Pfizer.
Asked about what she learned while away, Chung says, “there’s always a tension between the need-to-have and the nice-to-have. I feel like I always recognized that tension at Pfizer, but I brought it back with a sharper focus.”
- 24. Stephen UblPresident and CEO, PhRMA24. Stephen UblPresident and CEO, PhRMA
Amidst a drug-pricing debate that shows no signs of simmering, Stephen Ubl has become one of the industry’s most effective bulwarks.
He took the reins at PhRMA in 2015, right before names such as Valeant and Martin Shkreli threatened to further tarnish the industry’s reputation. However, under his watch PhRMA has vigorously defended the industry’s reputation.
For instance, drugmakers that don’t spend significant sums on research and development often find themselves expelled from the organization’s roster.
- 25. Dr. Troy BrennanEVP and chief medical officer, CVS Health25. Dr. Troy BrennanEVP and chief medical officer, CVS Health
By David Palombi, SVP, corporate comms and chief comms officer, CVS Health
Troy Brennan has a tremendous appreciation of the importance of evidence-based medicine and the value of clinical research in helping people on their path to better health. In fact, under his guidance, CVS Health researchers have published more than 40 peer-reviewed papers that have helped further our collective understanding of the critical issue of medication nonadherence.
Beyond the health research arena, Troy has also played a pivotal role in many of the company’s key initiatives, ranging from the decision to stop selling tobacco products in CVS Pharmacy stores to the development of data-driven clinical programs that improve care for patients with chronic diseases.
- 26. Carolyn GrettaDirector, global marketing, Keytruda, Merck26. Carolyn GrettaDirector, global marketing, Keytruda, Merck
Of the many Merck marketers responsible for the huge success of Keytruda, few were involved as early in the developmental process as Carolyn Gretta. She was present at the meeting in which the decision was made to consider a Phase I trial, then worked on global strategy before an official commercial team was assembled.
Ever since then, Gretta — a former Wall Street equity researcher — has helped steer Keytruda toward market domination. And yet she says her role continues to evolve.
- 27. Liliana Gil VallettaCofounder and CEO, Cien+27. Liliana Gil VallettaCofounder and CEO, Cien+
It’s hard to miss Liliana Gil Valletta. One day she’s photographed at the White House seated at a table with Ivanka Trump and other women business owners. Another day she’s hosting a meeting between a reporter and one of her pharma clients in Colombia, ferrying a conversation seamlessly from Spanish to English and back to Spanish again.
The White House klatch led to another invitation — this one from New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who asked her to join the New York State Council on Women and Girls. “My voice and role was elevating equity gaps and opportunities to advance minority- and women-owned businesses,” she says via email.
- 28. Danielle SalowskiIndustry manager, Facebook Health28. Danielle SalowskiIndustry manager, Facebook Health
As the person responsible for Facebook Health’s partnerships, go-to-market strategy, planning, and comms, Danielle Salowski oversees a fast-growing team of experts from pharma, healthcare, and digital media based in New York, Washington, DC, and Menlo Park, Calif.
“Facebook has evolved from a channel many pharma marketers were hesitant to participate in to a viable option to reach patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers,” Salowski says.
- 29. Kevin GriffisVP for communications, Planned Parenthood29. Kevin GriffisVP for communications, Planned Parenthood
By Dawn Laguens, EVP, chief brand and experience officer, Planned Parenthood
There’s an oft-used saying at Planned Parenthood when things get hectic: “No one comes to work at Planned Parenthood by accident.”
But it takes passion and guts to join an organization in the middle of a prolonged and bitter political attack by Congress and the president. Yet that’s what Kevin Griffis did. His belief that everyone has a right to healthcare led him to Planned Parenthood. It also informed his decision to join the Obama administration as the assistant secretary for public affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where he worked on the Ebola and Zika virus outbreaks and the Affordable Care Act.
[for full profile and social sharing click here]
- 30. Nick RagoneSVP, chief marketing and comms officer, Ascension30. Nick RagoneSVP, chief marketing and comms officer, Ascension
By Rob Flaherty, partner, chairman, and CEO, Ketchum
As everyone in healthcare knows, serving and leading the market requires many talents and perspectives. You have to come at the issues from a public policy and private sector perspective. You also have to bring brilliant strategic analysis and an abundance of humanity.
Which is why my friend Nick Ragone is the ideal leader in marketing and comms at Ascension, the country’s largest nonprofit health system and the world’s largest Catholic health system. What a unique and powerful combination of talents Nick brings. He was top of his class at Georgetown Law and is an author of four books on American government and the U.S. presidency. He was also a very early adopter of all social media channels and is still a frequent guest on TV and in print.
[for full profile and social sharing click here]
- 31. Eileen SheilExecutive director, corporate comms, Cleveland Clinic31. Eileen SheilExecutive director, corporate comms, Cleveland Clinic
By Barry Leggetter, CEO, International, Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communications
I first met Eileen at a 2012 AMEC Global Summit in Madrid. She made an instant impact with her plain speaking, but also with her natural curiosity to want to learn, improve, and take back best-in-class international thinking to her team.
Eileen has since become a great supporter of AMEC’s work and is chair of our not-for-profit group, where she and I have worked closely together.
- 32. Wendy LundCEO, GCI Health32. Wendy LundCEO, GCI Health
By Mike Hudnall, CEO, WPP Health & Wellness
Passion, conviction, tenacity, and achievement are probably the hallmarks of Wendy’s leadership style. Over her 30-plus year career, Wendy’s innate drive to push boundaries, find the better way, and champion gender equality have made an indelible mark across the WPP network, client organizations, and health communications.
In our increasingly dynamic industry, effective, visionary leadership is mandatory, and Wendy brings that and so much more to the table. On her watch, GCI Health has quadrupled revenue, exponentially increased its client base, expanded its European footprint, and cemented its reputation as a leader in the healthcare PR space.
- 33. Geoffrey ChaikenCofounder, chairman, and CEO, Blink Health33. Geoffrey ChaikenCofounder, chairman, and CEO, Blink Health
The thinking behind Blink Health is pretty simple: The company negotiates discounts on prescription drugs on behalf of patients who enroll online. What makes it unique — at least when compared to other would-be disruptors — is that Blink’s patients still go to the pharmacy to pick up their medications.
The difference is once they get there, there’s no sticker shock.
“Often three different people will pay three different prices for the same medications at the same stores,” Geoffrey Chaiken explains. “That’s a nonsensical system.”
[for full profile and social sharing click here]
- 34. Jim WeissFounder and CEO, W2O Group34. Jim WeissFounder and CEO, W2O Group
By Maria Russell, director, executive education and professor of PR, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University
Jim Weiss was a standout student. Today, he’s a standout entrepreneur and thought leader because he sees the world in unique ways and always finds the opportunity and the good that’s there.
I’ve known Jim since his senior year at the Newhouse School when he eagerly immersed himself in the curriculum and the nightlife at Syracuse. He was a leader then, often challenging the status quo and shifting arguments in class to broaden the debate.
- 35. Diane WinnardDivisional VP of corporate identity business activation, global marketing, Abbott35. Diane WinnardDivisional VP of corporate identity business activation, global marketing, Abbott
In her more than 20 years at Abbott, Diane Winnard has held a range of roles, in areas as diverse as customer service, new product development, and sales. So when it came time to recast the company’s corporate identity earlier this year, there were few individuals better qualified to contribute.
In concert with Abbott marketers, Winnard conducted a wealth of research about both the company and its positioning vis-à-vis the competition. The key takeaway was that healthcare was moving in a direction that would demand more concerted corporate branding from its A-list players.
- 36. Leerom SegalCofounder and CEO, Klick Health36. Leerom SegalCofounder and CEO, Klick Health
By Ryan Olohan, national industry director, healthcare, Google
What makes Leerom Segal so great is his “relentless pursuit of awesome,” a phrase started by Klick that also embodies Leerom and the amazing culture he has created. Because Klick has been a trusted Google partner for years, we have experienced its pursuit of awesome in so many ways.
We see the awesome in our daily interactions with the many Klick teams who take pride in hiring smart, professional, and decent people. I personally see the awesome in Leerom in his refusal to accept mediocrity and his passion to change the world.
- 37. Kaya Pai PanandikerVP, psychiatry marketing, Lundbeck U.S.37. Kaya Pai PanandikerVP, psychiatry marketing, Lundbeck U.S.
By Gary Chu, EVP, director of account management, McCann HumanCare
Expertise, focus, and commitment are key attributes of any influencer who desires to make an impact. Kaya is that influencer. She leads and inspires her team to provide customer-centric solutions with the ultimate outcome of improving the lives of patients.
In pharma, where tried-and-true marketing approaches prevail, Kaya often leads efforts to pioneer new marketing initiatives with a creative yet measured approach.
In addition, owing to her strong leadership and plethora of what we affectionately refer to as “Kaya-isms,” her people are inspired to go the extra mile.
- 38. Paul GeorgeGlobal business development leader, health, Omnicom Public Relations Group38. Paul GeorgeGlobal business development leader, health, Omnicom Public Relations Group
By Karen van Bergen, CEO, Omnicom Public Relations Group
Paul George is a force to be reckoned with in the healthcare world — a strategist, innovator, connector, and counselor.
His expertise spans more than 20 therapeutic areas and healthcare sectors.
Paul joined Porter Novelli in 2012 to head the agency’s global health and wellness practice. As CEO at the time, I had a front row seat to watch him create a truly global practice, marked by wins with marquee clients including Bayer, Johnson & Johnson, and Teva. The practice continues to thrive under his leadership.
[for full profile and social sharing click here]
- 39. Paul GerrardVP, strategic comms, BlueCross BlueShield39. Paul GerrardVP, strategic comms, BlueCross BlueShield
By Margery Kraus, founder and executive chairman, APCO Worldwide
Paul is a valued member of the comms industry as a leader, not only in his organization but also as someone who is always thinking about how to improve what we do as comms professionals.
He is always ready to challenge you in a conversation about new ideas on how to add value to one’s organization and to the profession. At BlueCross BlueShield, he continues to lead the successful evolution of his organization during this time of transformation of the healthcare industry.
- 40. Shwen GweeHead of digital strategy, global clinical operations, Biogen40. Shwen GweeHead of digital strategy, global clinical operations, Biogen
Shwen Gwee is about as close to a Renaissance man as there is in pharma today. He’s one of the industry’s most charismatic and articulate digital evangelists, in areas from innovation to clinical trials to digital techniques. He sits on a range of A-list advisory boards, including Doximity and the Digital Health Coalition.
He also chairs the Social Innovation Day at each of the Digital Pharma series events and was a featured speaker at Cannes Lions Health this June.
- 41. Mary Ann BelliveauNational health and wellness director, Twitter41. Mary Ann BelliveauNational health and wellness director, Twitter
Looking back at the past year, which saw Twitter deepen its pharma ties, Mary Ann Belliveau characterizes it as “incredibly exciting.” The former Google executive worked with pharma clients to execute timely campaigns in response to trending topics discussed on the social platform. Those included Gilead buying a trend on World AIDS Day and GlaxoSmithKline’s Debate Headache campaign for Excedrin during the 2016 presidential election.
November’s launch of a new ad unit, Ads Without Profiles, opened up the social media platform to pharma clients not yet ready for a Twitter handle. “Our health and wellness team worked with its product and engagement team as well as with pharma clients to develop the unit, which has also been used successfully in other categories,” Belliveau reports.
- 42. Diana LittmanExecutive director and chief integration officer, Marina Maher Communications42. Diana LittmanExecutive director and chief integration officer, Marina Maher Communications
By Marina Maher, founder and CEO, Marina Maher Communications
Diana is the rarest of talents. In the same breath, you would describe her as a powerful leader, cutting-edge innovator, inspired presenter, and business-savvy partner. She continually redefines leadership at the agency and has been at the forefront of MMC’s growth and evolution for the past decade.
Diana joined MMC, then largely a consumer shop, as a healthcare specialist. She immediately saw the opportunity to leverage deep consumer understanding and apply it to healthcare. Having immersed herself in the consumer category, she also quickly became adept at leading and winning consumer business and built the agency’s corporate offering.
- 43. Anne de SchweinitzGlobal managing director, healthcare, FleishmanHillard43. Anne de SchweinitzGlobal managing director, healthcare, FleishmanHillard
By John Saunders, president and CEO, FleishmanHillard
Anne’s experience and leadership goes beyond the traditional boundaries of healthcare, crossing multiple sectors with a diverse portfolio of expertise. Whether it’s tackling challenges for clients or guiding a team to excellence, she is your ultimate problem-solver and the counselor who can lead a project to success with a creative edge and entrepreneurial mindset.
Anne becomes personally invested in the direction of her clients’ work and is always striving for excellence. Beyond her communications counsel, she’s a brilliant business professional who keeps the client’s business priorities at the center of the program.
- 44. Jeanine O’KaneU.S. managing director, inVentiv Health PR44. Jeanine O’KaneU.S. managing director, inVentiv Health PR
By Lisa Stockman, president, communications, INC Research/inVentiv Health
Future-focused sums up Jeanine O’Kane. She is a purveyor of trends and a noted author on what’s next in the healthcare industry.
Jeanine’s deep understanding of our industry fuels her breakthrough solutions for client challenges. It also enables her to incubate new services and offerings, ensuring our PR agencies are ahead of what clients will need next.
[for full profile and social sharing click here]
- 45. Jonathan WilsonPresident and CEO, Spectrum Science Communications45. Jonathan WilsonPresident and CEO, Spectrum Science Communications
By Mary Conway, EVP, media strategy, Spectrum Science Communications
Deliver the best, and success will follow.
When Jonathan Wilson was seeking an agency where he could support market-leading healthcare innovations, he was immediately drawn to Spectrum. Its unique grounding in science, long-term client relationships, and founding of the GlobalHealthPR network of best-in-market independent agencies made Spectrum the natural choice.
Since joining Spectrum in 2014, Jonathan has built on the agency’s strong foundation, adding the right talent and instituting a flexible modern work environment that encourages individual growth.
- 46. Ryan OlohanNational industry director, healthcare, Google46. Ryan OlohanNational industry director, healthcare, Google
By Stefani Klaskow, head of industry, healthcare, Google
“Our greatest danger is not that we aim too high and miss, but that we aim too low and hit.” This is Ryan Olohan’s favorite quote — and one that perfectly sums up his accomplishments. Never willing to settle, he strives for the top in every aspect of his life.
Ryan took over as industry director of Google Healthcare five years ago and immediately turned the team on its head. With his agency and CPG background, Ryan challenged his team to ask “Why not? Why can’t we think bigger, move faster, and be better?”
[for full profile and social sharing click here]
- 47. Brian FoxSenior partner, McKinsey & Co.47. Brian FoxSenior partner, McKinsey & Co.
By Aamir Malik, senior partner, McKinsey & Co.
Trust. It’s what a patient places in his doctor. It’s what drives a consumer’s choice in a pharmacy aisle. And it’s why life sciences executives call Brian Fox.
Brian is a cutting-edge thought leader and trusted adviser on driving growth. With his sharp insights and direct, no-nonsense style, Brian has advised multiple pharma and medical products execs on how to develop and flex their marketing muscle to maximize impact.
Brian has supported the launch of some of the most iconic brands in pharma and guided the building of some of the most innovative digital connectivity and insights capabilities in the industry. And he does not plan to stop.
- 48. Gil BasheManaging partner, global health practice, Finn Partners48. Gil BasheManaging partner, global health practice, Finn Partners
By Renee Martin, VP, Finn Partners
Gil Bashe is known to lead from the work.
Colleagues cite his commitment to roll up his sleeves alongside them to advance patient care, while his stints at Medicus, Hill & Knowlton, Makovsky, and Finn Partners have garnered an unprecedented number of awards.
Listening to this quiet-spoken leader today is a far cry from his entry into healthcare as a combat medic sergeant in a paratrooper unit. He cites this work as opening his eyes to how communication saves lives.
- 49. Matt RuthChief commercial officer, U.S., Adapt Pharma49. Matt RuthChief commercial officer, U.S., Adapt Pharma
In 2015, Adapt Pharma’s Narcan became the first FDA-approved nasal spray version of naloxone hydrochloride, which reverses the effects of opioid overdose.
Matt Ruth describes playing a role in helping assuage a national epidemic as “extremely rewarding.” The CDC reported that 22,000 people died from prescription opioids in 2015.
“It seems as though everyone knows somebody who has suffered a loss due to an opioid or heroin overdose,” Ruth says. “It’s rewarding to help and try to provide life-saving medication to give somebody a second chance.”
[for full profile and social sharing click here]
- 50. Justin GoverCEO and executive director, GW Pharmaceuticals50. Justin GoverCEO and executive director, GW Pharmaceuticals
It wasn’t until recently that players in the traditional pharma market began to pay close attention to evolving cultural perceptions — and laws — pertaining to marijuana as a medical treatment. Now, 29 states have approved marijuana for medical use.
So where does GW Pharmaceuticals fit in? Under Justin Gover’s leadership, the company first began researching cannabinoids in 1998, eventually raising $900 million in equity financing. Sativex, its cannabinoid prescription drug, is approved to treat spasticity, a common symptom of multiple sclerosis, in 29 countries. (It’s not approved in the U.S.) GW is now testing its experimental Epidiolex as a treatment for rare versions of several epilepsy disorders.
On what basis did you pick these people? I literally don’t know any of the top 10. Sounds like a PR job vs actual influencers.