Burson-Marsteller Appoints David Zitlow to Lead Healthcare Practice in the U.S.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations and communications firm, announced today that it has appointed David Zitlow as U.S. Chair of the Healthcare Practice and Lisa Davidson as U.S. Deputy Chair. As a member of the agency’s U.S. leadership team, Zitlow will report to Burson-Marsteller U.S. CEO Dave DenHerder and continue to work with Helene Ellison, Global Chair of Healthcare, to provide seamless delivery of healthcare expertise worldwide.

“I am confident that their depth of knowledge and leadership will ensure that our healthcare clients receive best-in-class, results-oriented communications counsel.”

“David and Lisa both have extensive experience and proven track records of success,” said DenHerder. “I am confident that their depth of knowledge and leadership will ensure that our healthcare clients receive best-in-class, results-oriented communications counsel.”

Zitlow, who is based in Chicago, joined Burson-Marsteller in November 2012 to lead the healthcare teams in the West and Midwest regions. Most recently, he was the chief marketing and communications officer for Cord Blood Registry (CBR), the global leader in stem cell preservation. Davidson has led Burson-Marsteller’s New York healthcare team since joining the firm in 2009. She has been instrumental in recruiting and developing talent and expanding the firm’s client base in the U.S. and globally.

“Given the rapidly evolving healthcare marketplace, we have made a commitment to attract and maintain the best talent in the industry. I look forward to working with Dave and our other regional practice chairs on continuing to build the strongest globally-integrated practice in the industry,” said Ellison. “Dave has great depth of experience in the U.S. healthcare market and is a strong addition to our global team.”

Burson-Marsteller’s healthcare practice has experienced continued growth in the last four years from both new and existing clients across the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, provider and policy sectors.

David Zitlow

Zitlow brings to Burson-Marsteller more than 20 years of diverse experience in healthcare marketing and public relations. As a corporate officer for CBR, he was responsible for directing all aspects of the company’s corporate communications function; leading the marketing strategy for both consumers and healthcare professionals; repositioning the brand; managing regulatory inquiries; and leading the formation of the industry’s trade association.

Prior to CBR, Zitlow was executive vice president and healthcare practice leader at GolinHarris, where he developed and led relationships with several major clients. During his five-year tenure, he doubled the size and scope of the practice, in part by building integrated multi-agency teams.

Zitlow also spent several years with Manning, Selvage & Lee, where he led teams that launched several “new-to-the-world” consumer and prescription healthcare products on behalf of Fortune 100 companies. Earlier in his career, he held business development and marketing positions at both Abbott Laboratories and McDonald’s Corporation.

Zitlow holds a master’s degree in Integrated Marketing from Northwestern University and earned an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Spanish from DePauw University.

Lisa Davidson

Davidson has nearly two decades of strategic health communications experience. Prior to joining Burson-Marsteller, Davidson spent nearly 17 years at Porter Novelli, where she was partner and led the New York Healthcare Practice. There, Davidson advised a range of top pharmaceutical companies on both domestic and international communications issues and programs in a diverse number of product and disease categories and geographies. Davidson started her public relations career at Edelman.

Davidson earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY.

About Burson-Marsteller

Burson-Marsteller, established in 1953, is a leading global public relations and communications firm. It provides clients with strategic thinking and program execution across a full range of public relations, public affairs, reputation and crisis management, advertising and digital strategies. The firm’s seamless worldwide network consists of 73 offices and 85 affiliate offices, together operating in 110 countries across six continents. Burson-Marsteller is a unit of WPP, the world’s leading communications services network. For more information, please visit bm.com.