CHICAGO & SAN DIEGO– CG Life, a leading integrated agency that blends strategy, creative, marketing, digital, and communications with science, has welcomed industry veteran Jay Carter as the agency’s Executive Vice President, Business Development. Emerging out of retirement to join the CG Life team, Carter’s focus will be on the continued growth of CG Life across all facets of the agency, including the advancement of its legacy life science business and its strategic expansion as agency-of-record among biopharma companies.
“Everyone who has worked with Jay or competed against him knows he is driven to win, but he does it with integrity and a relentless commitment to client success,” said David Ormesher, CG Life CEO. “Those are his non-negotiables, and when I had a chance to bring him on the CG Life team, I jumped. He’s a friend and a highly respected leader in the agency world, and I know we’re going to have a lot of fun building the future with him.”
Over the course of his four-decades-long career leading strategic growth for communications organizations, Carter has held several senior leadership positions including with JUICE Pharma Worldwide as its Executive Vice President, Business Development. Prior to that he spent over 35 years with AbelsonTaylor, the health and wellness advertising agency based in Chicago, IL, where he led business development and customer engagement functions. Most recently, Carter launched his own consulting firm, Into the Wild Consulting, where he was providing part-time consulting services to CG Life prior to joining the agency full-time.
“Meeting the team at CG Life has been a real eye-opener; it is full of exceptionally strong and capable people, amazing scientific content and digital expertise, and it is crystal clear on its focus and where it wants to continue developing,” said Carter. “When I decided to retire in January 2024, I was certain it was time to finally take a step back, slow down and spend time with my family. And yet, I found that I was lacking that spring in my step that I exhibited whenever I was actively engaged in a business or project. After spending time with the leadership and team at CG Life, I realized this is where I’m supposed to be. I’m really looking forward to sharing the many capabilities of this quickly evolving shop and finding ways I can help the CG Life team continue to grow.”
Carter has been recognized multiple times throughout his extensive career including receiving Med Ad News Industry Person of the Year and the MM+M Pinnacle Award, both in 2022. He has also been awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Lifetime Achievement Award by his alma mater, the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, in 2018. Carter has previously served as Board member and Chairperson for both the Coalition for Healthcare Communication and the Medical Advertising Hall of Fame.
As a vibrant team of over 150 digital marketing experts, scientific communicators, and PhD-level writers, CG Life provides integrated marketing solutions to leading companies in biopharma, medical devices, diagnostics, and research tools and services. The company recently experienced massive growth with two strategic acquisitions including Toolhouse, a digital agency expanding technology-enabled omnichannel capabilities for high-profile life sciences companies, and Berry & Company Public Relations, a Manhattan-based communications powerhouse agency specializing in rare and ultra-rare brands.
