Syneos Health Communications expands ad leadership roles, emphasizing commitment to client experience

Syneos Health Communications expands ad leadership roles, emphasizing commitment to client experience

MORRISVILLE, N.C. – August 8, 2023 – Syneos Health Communications — the portfolio of Syneos Health^® agencies designed to deliver insights-driven integrated communications spanning advertising, public relations, patient advocacy, medical communications, managed markets, omnichannel, digital, naming and branding — has promoted seasoned talent to lead creative expression and strategy in communications that drive positive health outcomes.  

Syneos Health Communications translates complex information into clear, actionable solutions to enable audiences to make informed, confident decisions. These health-first, health-only agencies deploy a wide array of strategic capabilities, with a direct line to Syneos Health clinical and commercial minds, to bring breakthrough healthcare solutions to the world. 

“To make the world a healthier place, one award-winning idea at a time has long been our mission. This mission has not changed; it’s only grown in importance,” said JD Cassidy, President, Advertising, Syneos Health Communications. “This group of leaders represents a group of ‘ad passionistas’ who will propel us forward in all the areas that matter. Together, they bring multi-disciplinary expertise, innovation, inspiration and best-practice standards to keep our craft current and seamless across the North America Ad group.”  

 The senior leadership promotions include: 

Adrian Garcia, Managing Director, Spherico, a division of GSW 

Adrian leads strategic development of marketing plans for in-market and prelaunch brands tailored to formulary- and population-based decision makers and most recently served as EVP, Head of Market Access Strategy, GSW. He has a passion for understanding a brand’s challenges so its value can be communicated across the three key core audiences—patients, physicians, and payers. Prior to working at Syneos Health, he spent 10 years at Eli Lilly and Company where he worked in areas including diabetes sales, brand and payer marketing and HUB strategy. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Louisiana Tech University and is a proud veteran of the US Army Reserves. 

Amanda Joly, Head of Strategy, Syneos Health Advertising Group North America 

Amanda most recently served as EVP, Integrated Strategy, GSW-Columbus. She has spent her entire career in the agency world with a focus on advertising communications. Working in consumer advertising on global, well-known brands, provided Amanda with valuable experience in a variety of categories including technology, corporate branding, and automotive. Having a variety of strategy-oriented roles during her career, including media, communications, engagement, and brand has enabled Amanda to take an integrated view of the strategic craft as well as a unique perspective to identify opportunities for brands to connect by cultivating insights to understand and solve problems, and helping to develop collaborative relationships with the goal of bringing clients unexpected, breakthrough ideas.

Astrid Defries-Lansing, Head of Creative, Syneos Health Advertising Group North America 

Astrid was most recently EVP, Executive Creative Director, GSW NY. With over 20 years of experience, she has held positions leading efforts for healthcare agencies including Havas, CDM, AgencyRx/DDB Health and the BGB Group. Her expertise ranges from high science to primary care and wellness, with a focus on developing campaigns and programs across brands, categories and geographies. Originally from Germany, out of college Astrid kick-started her own ad/design shop, managing an array of clients including high-performance automobile manufacturer Porsche.  

Dan Smith, General Manager, Syneos Health Advertising Group North America 

Dan has been part of Syneos Health for 23 years and most recently was General Manager, Syneos Health Advertising Group for Midwest Region where heled the Spherico and GENICOS specialty agencies, as well as supported operations for GSW Midwest and led several strategic initiatives. Prior to his current role, Dan oversaw the GSW-Columbus office for over 10 years. Under Dan’s leadership the agency experienced business growth as well as industry-leading awards and recognition including Med Ad News Agency of the Year and Columbus Monthly’s Best Places to Work. Prior to joining GSW/Syneos Health, Dan worked in pharmaceutical marketing for Roxane Laboratories, Pharmacia & Upjohn, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. 

Matt Mizer, EVP/Managing Director, GSW New York  

Matt began at GSW over 20 years ago and has held close to every position from traffic manager to client manager to business development and marketing lead. His tenure has included leading the oncology portfolio, supporting global blockbuster brands and groundbreaking franchises, managing multi-channel marketing campaigns for some of the most recognized neuroscience brands in healthcare, and overseeing both US and global accounts. He most recently served as EVP, Brand Expression & Growth, Syneos Health, North American Advertising Agency brands with new business win rates of nearly 60% resulting in significant growth.  

This new leadership group will work across Syneos Health Communications to bring science to life in service of the healthcare industry, scientists, clinicians, manufacturers and patients. They’ll provide a clear, definitive, and persuasive voice to accelerate research and innovation to improve the health and well-being of society. 

About Syneos Health Communications: At the Heart of Health 

Syneos Health Communications is a purpose-built portfolio of innovative health-first, health-only advertising, branding, medical communications, market access and public relations agencies. We are fiercely focused on creating platforms that allow our customers to bring life-changing healthcare solutions to the world. We are an unrivaled community—powered by clinical and commercial minds across Syneos Health^®—that operates at the intersection of health, technology, and creativity. By harnessing data and behavioral sciences, we get to deeper, more actionable insights that drive behavior change.  

Our agencies include Addison Whitney, Biosector 2, Cadent Medical Communications, Chamberlain Healthcare Public Relations, Chandler Chicco Agency, GSW, Litmus, GENICOS and Spherico Managed Markets Communications. We work as scalable, collaborative teams that partner across disciplines and geographies to deliver integrated communications strategies that accelerate brand performance. 

Learn more at syneoshealthcommunications.com or follow Syneos Health on LinkedIn.