Management Team

William O'Donnell

President and Chief Operating Officer
inVentiv Communications

As President and COO of inVentiv Communications, William O'Donnell is responsible for strategic direction and oversight of inVentiv Communications and the 13 fully integrated companies within the division. He also oversees client relationships, new business activities and the division's operational backbone that includes the accounting/finance, human resources, marketing communications and technology departments.

Prior to joining inVentiv Communications (then known as inChord) in 2001, Mr. O'Donnell was CFO for Bank One's Retail Customer and Channel Group (now JPMorgan Chase). In this role, he led a team of finance and accounting professionals to provide decision support, financial reporting and analysis, financial control and strategic and capital planning for a business unit management team. During Mr. O'Donnell's 17 years with Bank One, he held a number of other positions, including CFO of the Business Banking Group, where he was responsible for the financial management of the small business unit. He was also Corporate Finance Liaison, where he acted as the liaison between the Retail line of business CFO and CEO and the Banc One Corporation CFO and COO.

Mr. O'Donnell holds a B.S. in Finance and Accounting from Miami University and an M.B.A. from the University of Dayton. He also completed the Executive Development Program at Darden School of Business, University of Virginia.

Robert Chandler

Co-founder
Chandler Chicco Agency

As co-founder of Chandler Chicco Agency (CCA), Robert Chandler is one of the healthcare industry's most experienced public relations consultants.

Mr. Chandler and his business partner, Gianfranco Chicco, began CCA in August 1995. Under their leadership, the agency became a top PR consultancy in healthcare, growing from five to 220 people, with revenue exceeding $45 million. Today, CCA has offices in London, Los Angeles, Washington and Paris, and an extensive affiliate network with multiple firms in Asia and Europe. It is also one of the most honored PR firms in the industry, having been named 2007 Agency of the Year by PRWeek and 2007 Healthcare Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report. The agency has appeared consistently on the industry's "Best Agencies to Work For" lists both in the U.S. and Europe.

Before establishing CCA, Mr. Chander was Executive Vice President and Co-managing Director of Burson-Marsteller's Healthcare Practice and President of the agency's biotechnology division. He also served as VP/Assistant Administrator for Marketing and Public Affairs at the Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn. Earlier in his career, he worked in the public affairs department of the Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corporation.

Mr. Chandler has a B.A. in journalism from Bowling Green State University; a M.A. in journalism from Ohio University; and an M.B.A in Health Services Administration from Wagner College.

Joe Daley

President
GSW Worldwide, Columbus

Joe Daley, President of the Columbus operations of GSW Worldwide, is responsible for the operations of the Columbus office, as well as maintaining client relationships and overseeing business development.

Before assuming his current position, Mr. Daley served as President of Specialty Companies for inChord Communications, which was acquired by inVentiv in 2005. He also served as Executive Vice President and General Manager for GSW, helping direct the agency's marketing efforts for clients such as Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, PNU, Abbott, and Elan, covering mostly metabolic, oncology and critical care therapeutic areas.

Previously, Mr. Daley served as Director of Business Development in the Worldwide Metabolics Franchise Management group of Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS). During his 13 years with BMS, Mr. Daley served in a variety of capacities in addition to business development, including sales and marketing for cardiovascular, neuroscience and metabolic therapy.

Mr. Daley earned his B.S. in Microbiology from Arizona State University.

Phil Deschamps

President and Chief Executive Officer
GSW Worldwide

As President and CEO of GSW Worldwide, Phil Deschamps is responsible for worldwide operations and provides oversight of the agency's offices in Columbus, New York and Newtown, Penn. He also oversees the global network and works directly with clients on the marketing of global products.

Before being named to his current role, Mr. Deschamps served as Executive Vice President at GSW Worldwide, overseeing marketing of all central nervous system products, including Lilly's Prozac. Before joining GSW, he spent 10 years at Bristol-Myers Squibb, marketing neuroscience, pain therapeutic and metabolic therapeutic products.

Mr. Deschamps earned his B.S. from the University of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada.

Garnett Dezember

President
The Navicor Group

Garnett Dezember, President of The Navicor Group, has over 20 years of experience in the marketing of healthcare products. Before The Navicor Group, Mr. Dezember served as Senior Vice President at GSW Worldwide, overseeing advertising accounts on several leading oncology products.

Prior to joining GSW, Mr. Dezember was Vice President of alliance management, external development, at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS). During his 20 years with BMS, his experience included oncology marketing (including the U.S. launch of Taxol), oncology global marketing and strategic planning, oncology intercontinental franchise management, immunology/biologics franchise management, HIV (including the launch of Zerit), women's healthcare and infant formula marketing.

Mr. Dezember received his M.B.A. from the University of Evansville and undergraduate degree from Indiana State University-Evansville.

Matt Brown

President
Ignite Health

As President of Ignite Health, one of the fastest-growing healthcare marketing agencies in the US, Matt Brown is responsible for strategic direction and oversight of the agency's offices in Irvine, CA and Manhattan. He also oversees client relationships, new business activities and works closely with clients on the marketing of their products.

Mr. Brown joined Ignite in 2009 as Chief Operations Officer responsible for overseeing the agency’s daily operations. In addition to working with account and creative teams to ensure efficient delivery of the quality of work, Brown led the agency’s strategic offering in brand planning, digital and commercial strategy, technology, as well as media and research.

Prior to Ignite, Brown was Senior Vice President/Managing Director for GSW Worldwide. During his 10 years at GSW, he held a number of positions with responsibility for leading account services, new business, staff development, as well as innovative business models and communications solutions for clients. Mr. Brown was an instrumental player in establishing and building a satellite office from a single client to over a dozen clients and a team of over 80 employees in Newtown, PA within the first year.

Mr. Brown's experience includes strategic leadership, public speaking and moderating groups, cross-functional team leadership, project and franchise management, financial management, product launches, rebranding and positioning, and employee development. Brown, a graduate of The Ohio State University, served in the Army National Guard for six years prior to starting his professional career.

Tammy Fischer

President
GSW Worldwide, New York

As President of GSW Worldwide's New York office, Tammy Fischer is responsible for operations, as well as maintaining client relationships and overseeing global accounts.

Ms. Fischer brings more than 18 years of experience in pharmaceutical advertising, sales, medical education and organizational management. Prior to joining GSW, she served as Executive Vice President, Managing Director at DraftFCB Healthcare where she was responsible for driving new business growth that led to several professional and DTC account wins including Bristol Myers Squibb, Cybertronics, Abbott, Centocor and Merck. She worked on a breadth of health categories including HIV, transplant, diabetes, psoriasis, Crohn's disease, infertility and human growth hormone.

Before DraftFCB, Ms. Fischer was Senior Vice President with KPR where she created the Specialized Healthcare Communications Group, SandlerScience, a division of The Sandler Group, which manages high science brands. In addition to serving as brand consultant for multiple-indication brands at KPR, Ms. Fischer also managed all phases of pre-launch/launch communications for a novel women's health product Estrasorb including advertising, public relations, key opinion leader development and market segmentation.

Ms. Fischer has a B.A. in Marketing from State University of New York.

Mark Frank

President
GSW Worldwide, Newtown

Mark Frank serves as President of GSW Worldwide's Newtown, Pennsylvania office, which opened in 2006. Prior to leading the establishment of that office, he worked for eight years at GSW Worldwide's Columbus office, where he held positions of increasing levels of responsibility, managing accounts for Zyprexa, Prevacid, Cymbalta, Topamax, Strattera, Lupron and CIGNA Healthcare.

Prior to joining GSW Worldwide in 1998, Mr. Frank served as Marketing Director for Novartis Pharmaceuticals where he was responsible for several brands in therapeutic categories including neuroscience, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and immunology. Mr. Frank also served as a consultant with Corporate Health Strategies before working at Novartis. Additional accounts that he has worked on include Sears, Alcoa, General Motors and LTV Steel Corp.

Mr. Frank holds B.A. and M.A. from the University of Massachusetts.

Brian Heffernan

Chief Marketing Officer
GSW Worldwide

As CMO for GSW Worldwide, Brian Heffernan is responsible for providing global and strategic marketing leadership with a focus on consumer and DTC efforts. He also leads the agency's health and well-being practice, helping marketers capitalize upon consumers' growing interest and involvement in health and well-being.

Mr. Heffernan brings over 20 years of national and international consumer advertising experience. He has worked on many high-profile assignments for global marketers such as Nestle, Blockbuster, Kraft, Nabisco and Miller.

Mr. Heffernan worked at J. Walter Thompson's (JWT) New York office. In 1997 he helped JWT make its initial transition from consumer agency to work in healthcare and DTC. He then went on to become president of JWT's Chicago office before joining GSW Worldwide.

He holds a B.S. from Marquette University.

Guy Mastrion

Chief Global Creative Officer
Palio

Guy Mastrion has over 25 years of strategic and creative expertise across a wide range of advertising communications. From local to national and international advertising campaigns, from post cards to television, radio, internet, his unique combination of talents and creativity continue to be a driving force for Palio and their clients. Everyday at Palio he oversees the conception and execution of their work alongside his team of senior creative directors.

Prior to joining Palio, Mr. Mastrion was Executive Vice President managing director/creative director of Lowe McAdams NY where he specialized in the development and execution of all consumer television and direct marketing efforts. He has held executive level positions in some of the worlds' largest advertising agencies, including Bates, Saatchi and Saatchi and McCann Erickson.

Mr. Mastrion received his B.A. from the Parsons School of Design.

Mike Myers

President
Palio

Mike Myers has a unique background in both professional and consumer healthcare marketing and advertising. From generic and branded manufacturers to managed care, market research and DTC launch campaigns, Mr. Myers has the experience and skills to shepherd brands from product inception through generic and OTC conversions.

Prior to joining Palio, Mr. Myers was a Senior Vice President at Lowe McAdams Healthcare, where he was responsible for client acquisition, management and growth within the company's direct marketing group. Additional healthcare marketing experience includes senior-level positions at several agencies, including NCI Advertising, PCS Health Systems, Walsh America/Pharmaceutical Marketing Services, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company.

Mr. Myers received his M.B.A. from the University of Southern California and undergraduate degrees from The University of Arizona.

Jonathan Wilson

President
Chamberlain Healthcare Public Relations

Jonathan Wilson is a communications strategist, specializing in developing or amplifying public health conversations—grounded in the science of the brands he represents—to reach stakeholders and their influencers in the channels where they live, work and play.

He has extensive experience in international, U.K. and U.S. domestic health and pharmaceutical communications, and brings a deep understanding of global communications and affiliate networking, global issues management, market preparedness, strategic planning and professional and consumer programming.

Mr. Wilson joined Chamberlain in April 2003 to lead the agency’s cardiovascular group, and he has since lead teams in the oncology, immunology and infectious disease areas. A British national, Mr. Wilson began his career servicing U.K. domestic and global clients in London, relocating to New York in 2002.

Mr. Wilson graduated from the University of Leicester (U.K.) with a B.Sc. degree in Molecular Biology, with a focus on infection and immunity and the cellular basis of drug action.

Vince Parry

President
Y Brand
Chief Branding Officer
inVentiv Communications

Vince Parry is responsible for developing and leading a broad range of agency and communications capabilities in New York. He is the founder and leader of Y Brand, inVentiv Communications strategic branding group. Headquartered in Manhattan, this group offers branding strategy development, consensus-building brand behavior models, proprietary branding research, and branding hallmark design. Since joining inChord in November 2001, Mr. Parry has conducted branding initiatives for clients such as: Lilly (Zyprexa global franchise, oncology portfolio, Xigris), Abbott (Biaxin), Roche (corporate, Fortovase), Genentech (Rituxan, Raptiva), AstraZeneca (Pulmicort), Corporate One (corporate), and Emisphere (corporate).

With expertise in creative services, branding and global new product planning, Mr. Parry previously served as Executive Vice President/CCO at Sudler & Hennessey for 13 years, where he created and led Signature, S&H's brand identity group. He also developed the agency's creative protocols and directed the integration of creative activity between all lines of S&H business on a global basis, as well as cross-servicing opportunities with parent company Young & Rubicam.

His global branding experience includes Lipitor, Vioxx, Rocephin, Neupogen, Amevive, Xenical, Nolvadex, Tamiflu, Propecia, Nicotrol, Accolate, Effexor, Advil, Benadryl, Sudafed, Dove, Colgate and Sony.

Before S&H, Mr. Parry served as Group Creative Director at Klemtner Advertising, leading the work on Wyeth, Procter & Gamble and Berlex, among other accounts.

John Racik

President and Chief Executive Officer
Stonefly Communications Group

John Racik, President and CEO of Stonefly Communications Group, is responsible for all elements of the agency's business, including operations, strategic direction and sales and marketing.

Prior to leading Stonefly, Mr. Racik served as President and CEO of Blue Diesel, inVentiv Commercial's interactive arm. He came to this position with nearly 20 years in global brand and advertising agency management, healthcare marketing, and medical education. Before joining Blue Diesel, he was U.S. general manager for Sentrix Global Health Communications, a Young & Rubicam healthcare communications network, where he opened Sentrix's U.S. office and led it to become profitable within 13 months. Mr. Racik was responsible for establishing and building relationships with key clients, including DSM Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, Merck International, The Medicines Company, and UCB Pharma.

Mr. Racik holds dual B.S. from Indiana University School of Business in Marketing Management and Marketing Advertising.

Mark Rickards

President
inVentiv Medical Education Group

Mark Rickards, President of inVentiv Medical Education Group, is responsible for oversight of all of the division's medical education businesses, which include Cadent Medical Communications, The Selva Group, The Center for Biomedical Continuing Education (The CBCE), Freeport Travel, Gold Star Productions and RanchHand Graphics. Mr. Rickards is also responsible for maintaining relationships with clients and leading all internal operations.

Mr. Rickards has 20 years of pharmaceutical sales, marketing and medical education experience. He joined Cadent from AstraZeneca, where in addition to his work on Iressa, he served as Group Director with responsibility for product strategy, development and commercialization of the products in its prostate cancer portfolio, including Zoladex and Casodex. He also held a variety of other roles at AstraZeneca in marketing, product management, sales and sales training. Throughout the course of his career, he has gained therapeutic experience in oncology, cardiovascular disease, urology, respiratory disease, anti-infectives and pain management.

Mr. Rickards holds a B.B.A. from Baylor University.

Bruce Rooke

Chief Creative Officer
GSW Worldwide

Bruce Rooke, CCO for GSW Worldwide, provides strategic leadership for the creative team. His responsibilities include establishing and implementing standards for creative work and ensuring that strategic, creative and branding processes are used consistently across the agency.

Prior to GSW, Mr. Rooke worked as Executive Creative Director at J. Walter Thompson (JWT) in Detroit for 16 years where he was responsible for developing the Ford "No Boundaries" campaign featuring Bill Ford. In addition, he also served as Executive Vice President for JWT Worldwide and sat on the Worldwide Creative Council for JWT and WPP Group.

Prior to joining JWT in 1989 as an Associate Creative Director, Mr. Rooke worked at W.B. Doner, eventually serving as creative group head. His accounts there included Canadian Tire, Vlasic Pickles, and Shasta.

Mr. Rooke received a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Brannon Cashion

President
Addison Whitney

As President of Addison Whitney, a global brand consulting firm, Brannon Cashion leads all operational activities including: sales and marketing, international expansion, business development and new product innovations as they relate to the brand development process. Before assuming his current role, Brannon served as Senior Vice President of the organization. When inVentiv Health acquired Addison Whitney in 2007, Mr. Cashion played a critical role in the integration of Addison Whitney into the inVentiv network of companies.

With nearly two decades of marketing experience, Mr. Cashion has led the agency's offerings in brand name development, corporate identity consulting, tagline creation, pharmaceutical trade name and logo development, brand standards and various other branding capabilities provided to clients worldwide. He has directly guided the branding needs for the consumer, technology, financial and healthcare sectors. Mr. Cashion has managed relationships with companies such as Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Bank of America, New Balance, Novartis, Genzyme and Takeda among others.

Prior to joining Addison Whitney in 1996, Mr. Cashion had a successful career as a Research Analyst at Commodities Corporation (Goldman Sachs). He then joined First Union (Wells Fargo), where he was Vice President in International Marketing and Sales.

Mr. Cashion received a B.S. degree in Marketing and Finance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.