Novartis' Gareth Thurston joins Cello Health Consulting

Specialist healthcare strategic marketing firm Cello Health Consulting has appointed Gareth Thurston as a consultant.

He joins from Novartis, where he spent seven years in various roles, including brand lead for opthalmology and head of marketing for the company's leading brand.

During Thurston's 20-plus years in the industry he spent seven years at Gilead and had spells at Vidamed, Abbott and Astra Pharmaceuticals.

Jon Bircher, CEO of Cello Health Consulting, said: “Gareth is a strategic marketer with strong leadership and organisational skills, and he brings a wide experience working in some of Europe's biggest pharma companies.”

Gareth will be based at Cello Health Consulting's European office in Farnham, UK.

Meanwhile Cello Health's newly-formed BioConsulting arm has added another member to its senior team.

The firm, which focuses on pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medical device companies in the US, has appointed James McDermott as vice-president.

He has 20 years of life sciences experience and prior to joining Cello Health BioConsulting he was a senior member of Campbell Alliance's Corporate Development Practice. Before that he led Decision Resources' global consulting business for over 10 years.

Julia Ralston, CEO of Cello Health US, said: “We are delighted to welcome another very senior and experienced practitioner into the Cello Health BioConsulting team.

“Jim's extensive career, broad business background and therapeutic insight will be a tremendous addition to our team and is further testament to the growing value of the Cello Health organisation and a significant step in establishing us as one of a small number of high quality, technically led advisers to the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.”

In his new role at Cello Health BioConsulting McDermott will be based at the company's Boston office.