New York, NY – October 18, 2016 – ICR, a leading strategic communications and advisory firm, today announced the formation of ICR Healthcare, a newly-branded specialty practice that provides communications counsel and support for ICR’s growing roster of clients in the biopharmaceutical, medtech and healthcare services sectors. The firm also announced the addition of two senior hires to its growing healthcare communications practice. James Heins, a veteran in biopharma and medical device communications, joins the firm as senior vice president and head of healthcare public relations. Experienced corporate communications and investor relations strategist Charles Butler was named senior vice president within the ICR Healthcare team. The two join ICR’s existing healthcare team, which includes former sell-side analysts and senior agency professionals, as well as a roster of clients covering biotechnology, specialty pharmaceuticals, medical device, healthcare IT, and health services fields. Both will serve in key roles within ICR Healthcare to expand the depth and scope of expertise the firm provides to public and privately-held companies across the healthcare industry.
“The need for consistency and alignment of communications and investor relations is greater than ever for life science, medical technology and healthcare services companies – particularly given the complex landscape they must navigate in front of investor, B2B, healthcare professional, patient advocacy and regulatory audiences,” said Tom Ryan, CEO of ICR. “ICR Healthcare combines our existing healthcare communications and investor relations practices into a single unit that is uniquely positioned to provide integrated PR and IR strategy and support to our clients. As industry insiders, Jim and Charles are both equipped with a strong understanding of the strategic needs for these organizations to achieve growth and success. We look forward to leveraging their expertise as the ICR Healthcare group expands our footprint within the healthcare sector.”
Heins brings more than 25 years of experience providing communications counsel and advisory to emerging and multinational biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies. He specializes in corporate reputation, scientific and marketing communications, stakeholder engagement, crisis management, and patient advocacy and education. As senior vice president and head of healthcare PR, he will lead ICR’s healthcare communications practice in implementing multi-channel communications programs that support the development and commercialization of clients’ prescription and consumer healthcare products – all while helping clients raise and enhance their corporate profile within the investment community and healthcare industries.
Heins has spent a significant portion of his career building and leading the communications function within pharmaceutical companies. He served as senior director of corporate affairs & communications at Purdue Pharma, where he implemented corporate communications, product marketing PR, and corporate social responsibility programs. Previously, he managed external and internal communications for Boehringer Ingelheim’s U.S. operations, where he was responsible for corporate reputation and branding, product marketing communications, employee engagement, and day-to-day media relations. In addition to Heins’ corporate experience, he has also held senior-level positions in the life science and healthcare practices of several PR agencies, including Cooney Waters Unlimited, Burns McClellan and Fleishman-Hillard. He is a graduate of the University of Richmond, where he studied English and Journalism.
Butler comes to ICR bringing over twenty years of experience as an expert counselor in strategic biopharma communications. Over the course of his career, Butler has participated in raising nearly $1 billion through equity, debt, special purpose vehicles and business development transactions. He has a proven track record in managing communications for earnings, efforts to raise capital, business development transactions, adverse regulatory actions, proxy initiatives and shareholder activism. As senior vice president, Butler will bring a combination of deep expertise in multiple therapy areas and treatment modalities, as well as an understanding of investment banking, investor and analyst communities, to help clients maximize their valuation.
Butler most recently served as vice president of investor relations at Castlight Health and was previously head of public relations for Clorox Healthcare’s B2B division. Prior to Clorox, he was vice president of investor relations and corporate communications for Exelixis, Inc., a multi-billion dollar commercial-stage biotechnology company. Butler began his career in healthcare at Ogilvy PR, where he led multiple communications efforts and launches for several blockbuster drugs for companies including Merck, Amgen and Bayer, among others. He graduated from The George Washington University where he studied Political Science and Government.
Heins will be based in ICR’s Connecticut and New York offices and Butler will work from ICR’s San Francisco office.
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