Simon-Kucher, the world’s leading commercial growth and pricing specialist, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jessica Cortez as Partner in its Healthcare & Life Sciences division. A nationally recognized healthcare strategist, Cortez will lead and expand the firm’s thought leadership across translational science, coverage & reimbursement, and launch readiness.
Cortez brings more than 15 years of experience in US regulatory policy, drug commercialization, and market access strategy. Cortez joins the partnership with a proven track record of helping biopharmaceutical organizations bridge the gap between science and commercial strategy to drive real-world product adoption.
Before joining Simon-Kucher, Cortez held leadership roles at Avalere Health, Bristol Myers Squibb, and AmerisourceBergen. Her accomplishments include leading annual analysis of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, launching four blockbuster therapies, managing national reimbursement teams, and transforming large-scale pharmacy operations.
“Jessica combines exceptional scientific expertise with a deep understanding of market dynamics,” said Dr. Allison Dupuy, Senior Partner, Member of the Board, Co-Managing Partner USA and Canada, and Americas Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences. “Her leadership will meaningfully accelerate patient access and strengthen alignment across the healthcare ecosystem. We are thrilled to welcome her to the partnership at Simon-Kucher, where her expertise and passion will undoubtedly elevate our work and amplify our impact across the life sciences industry.”
“My work has always centered on translating scientific innovation into real-world access for patients,” said Cortez. “I’m excited to join Simon-Kucher and collaborate with our teams and clients to develop strategies that deliver sustainable value and meaningful impact across the healthcare system.”
Cortez holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of North Texas and is currently completing her master’s in Biotechnology, Regulatory Affairs at Johns Hopkins University. A strong advocate for culture and belonging, she has mentored colleagues across various time zones and is recognized for her collaborative, empathetic, and intellectually rigorous leadership style.
Cortez’s appointment strengthens Simon-Kucher’s Healthcare & Life Sciences leadership and enhances the firm’s ability to deliver cutting-edge commercialization and market access strategies that drive meaningful impact for clients and patients.
About Simon-Kucher
Simon-Kucher is a global consultancy with more than 2,000 employees in 30+ countries. Our sole focus is on unlocking better growth that drives measurable revenue and profit for our clients. We achieve this by optimizing every lever of their commercial strategy – product, price, innovation, marketing, and sales – based on deep insights into what customers want and value. With 40 years of experience in monetization topics of all kinds, we are regarded as the world’s leading pricing and growth specialist.
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