LEO P FRANCIS, PHD – President, LPF Solutions

Leo Francis is an award-winning communications professional with a unique mix of commercial and scientific expertise and a proven record of success. He is a skilled communicator and visionary who is also operationally robust in translating scientific ideas into organizational value. He began his healthcare career in international clinical development at Gensia Europe Limited with a focus on the development of novel cardiovascular agents in surgery and arrhythmia diagnosis. Leo was instrumental in the preparation of the NDA for this unique device-drug combination

Over the next several years, Leo moved into medical communications leadership positions at Adelphi Group (US), OCC Europe, Ltd (UK) and Gardiner-Caldwell Communications (UK) deploying his expertise with most major pharmaceutical manufacturers on all aspects of the prelaunch/launch commercialization process from clinical study design, market shaping and preparation, positioning, thought-leader development engagement, healthcare organizational alliances, value proposition development and tactical deployment of medical communication strategies at both the domestic and global level.

Since being US-based, Leo's recent roles were within Publicis Healthcare Communications Group (PHCG) as President, Publicis Medical Education Group (PMEG), leading an eclectic group of six medical education agencies, following which he progressed to the role of Global Group President responsible for a portfolio of Global Advertising and Medical agencies (market research, market access, healthcare consulting & managed markets) and cross discipline skill centers (strategic planning, patient & consumer insights, data analytics & strategic services, medical insights/analysis).

In 2010 and 2012, Leo was honored in PharmaVoice 100 as one of the 100 most inspiring leaders in the life-sciences industry. Thereafter, Leo has been developing his Healthcare Consulting business, LPF Solutions LLC (www.lpfsolutionsllc.com; Twitter: #lpfsolutions) and has Pharmaceutical company and Healthcare agency clients across several business areas and therapeutic categories.

Leo's holds a Ph.D. in Physiology and Pharmacology from the University of Central Lancashire, UK