James Zuercher
Strategy and Planning at Astellas Pharma
Greater Chicago Area
Overview
Work Experience
Senior Manager, Strategy and Planning
2023 - Current
-Led a data-driven Growth Strategy project for US business to create thirty ideas across six key themes totaling $3.5B in potential new revenue and $2.4B in operating profit over a five year horizon. -Led the digital transformation of VEOZAH customer engagement, leveraging enhanced data analytics integration and AI/ML technology to improve customer experience, optimize field force productivity, and drive measurable commercial impact. -Led business case development for strategic need to update commercial data infrastructure resulting in more actionable GTM data for better customer experience and projected savings of $6M over five-year post implementation timeline. -Developed and maintained high trust, leadership-level relationships (local and global) across functions including marketing, sales, medical, finance, & legal.
Strategy Manager
2022 - 2023
-Led cross-functional consulting team of eight by serving as product manager for clinical support application for 7th largest health system in US (Fortune 500 company prior to being taken private) to scale use 36x within nine months while delivering verifiable ROI across key financial and user experience metrics. -Directly managed three employees to ensure completion of individual OKR’s, support individuals’ career growth, and build a trusting team culture.
Sr. Associate
2021 - 2022
-Led consulting team of two for a product and delivery gap assessment for $1B hospital group’s electronic medical records vendor resulting in a decision for client to drop project, leading to projected $22M in annual opportunity cost savings for client. -Developed business case for patient and family engagement strategy which resulted in expansion of professional services lines for client and $4.7m contract extension. -Within Manifold’s venture capital group (Founder Equity), performed due diligence on investment opportunities and developed GTM strategies for portfolio companies. -Promoted to Strategy Manager within 18 months of hire.
Manifold is a venture holding company combining an advisory firm, venture fund, and incubation and acceleration studio all under one roof.
Major Account Executive
2019 - 2020
-Hit 101% of quota in first year. -Structured complex SaaS contracts with direct and partner-enabled clients to maintain and grow a $12mm book of business across cybersecurity products (e.g. WAF, API security, Zero-Trust, DDOS mitigation, & bot mitigation). -Utilized a data driven approach to build novel value confirmation business cases for client ROI to ensure renewals; process was standardized and transitioned to offshore resources for scalable program
Customer Success Manager
2018 - 2018
-Saved $4M ARR client from churning by developing new reporting capabilities to ensure alignment of product usage per client contract; presented plan for buy-in to client CFO. -Drove product feature use up across territory 20% within six months of hire for portfolio products. -Promoted to Account Executive within nine months of hire
Akamai is a provider of cloud services that help enterprises provide secure, high-performing user experiences on any device.
Raised $1,135,000,000.00 from IVP.
Director of Strategy and Business Development
2017 - 2018
-Led go-to-market strategy and execution including strategic shift from direct sales model to channel model, new pricing model, and pivot from CMS payment models to population health focus.
Value-Based Care, Solution Sales
2014 - 2017
-Served as sales lead for SaaS solution for managing post-acute partners through CMS bundled payment models (e.g. CJR, BPCI) -Designed and implemented a data-driven customer segmentation model, integrating clinical trends and competitive intelligence to inform go-to-market strategy, optimize targeting, and enhance commercial effectiveness.
We are looking to add to our team of designers, developers, clinical experts, strategists, and entrepreneurs.
Raised $15,727,988.00 from OCA Ventures.
Business Development/Operations
2008 - 2014
-Managed a team of ten to ensure warehouse operations ran effectively and on-time. -Developed expertise in the preparation, storing, and tasting of over 1,500 cheeses and specialty food items to maintain the highest level of product care.