Simon-Kucher adds Jessica Cortez as partner in healthcare and life sciences

Simon-Kucher, a global sales and marketing consulting firm, has hired Jessica Cortez as a partner in its healthcare and life sciences division.

Based in Chicago, Cortez brings more than 15 years of experience in US regulatory policy, drug commercialization, and market access strategy.

She joins Simon-Kucher from consulting firm Avalere Health, where she spent four years and was a senior director in regulatory and commercialization market access. Before that, Cortez was an associate director for market access at Bristol Myers Squibb and a reimbursement manager at AmerisourceBergen.

Cortez has a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of North Texas.

“Jessica combines exceptional scientific expertise with a deep understanding of market dynamics. Her leadership will meaningfully accelerate patient access and strengthen alignment across the healthcare ecosystem,” said Allison Dupuy, senior partner and co-managing partner for the US and Canada, and head of the healthcare and life sciences sector in the Americas.

Simon-Kucher’s healthcare and life sciences division works with industry clients on portfolio and growth strategy, business model evolution, go-to-market and launch excellence, pricing and market access, omnichannel sales strategies, and commercial digital transformation.

“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 said.

Founded in 1985, Simon-Kucher is headquartered in Bonn, Germany and has over 2,000 employees in 30 countries. The firm provides services in pricing, product, innovation, sales, marketing, digital consulting, transactions, and software, among other areas.

Simon-Kucher has operated in the US market since 1996, where it has over 250 people across seven offices.