David Avitabile
President

David Avitabile has more than 15 years of experience in public relations and medical communications, and the experience of senior-level roles in Europe and the United States.

Before JFK Communications, David was Senior Vice President of Global Strategic Development for AXIS Healthcare Communications, a holding company consisting of eight diversified healthcare communications companies providing lifecycle management services to the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. David was responsible for developing key client relationships for AXIS companies worldwide, and working with the presidents of each AXIS company to identify and pursue new business.

Prior to his role at AXIS, David established the London office of ApotheCom, a global medical communications company and the largest member of the AXIS family of companies. As Managing Director of ApotheCom Europe, David was responsible for business development, creating a senior team at ApotheCom Europe, and ultimately hiring his replacement before returning to the United States to take on his new role at AXIS.

Before joining AXIS, David held positions as Director of Business Development and Client Services Director at OCC Europe, headquarters of a global medical communications company with offices in Europe, the United States, Japan and Australia. At OCC, David was responsible for global business development, and overseeing a client services team managing global medical communications programs for clients including Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Pharmacia and Shire Pharmaceuticals.

David’s public relations experience includes more than 10 years working in the US and Europe. At interSCIENCE, a global healthcare communications agency with offices in London, New York and Washington, David was responsible for building and managing a highly successful client services team in the London office, and developing and implementing international programs for clients including Sanofi, Merck (MSD) and AstraZeneca. David has deep therapeutic area experience including work in oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, GI and CNS. He has launched a number of new compounds and has contributed to global product communications and commercialization teams for clients in the United States and Europe.

David has worked at and managed agencies small and large. His experience includes account management roles at New York-based agencies Medicus Intercon and Nelson Communications, as well as smaller, boutique healthcare PR agencies such as Van Vechten & Associates and Mammoth Communications.