James Talerico is President, Chief Creative Officer, and head iconoclast at Heartbeat—a full-service healthcare marketing agency that partners with challenger brands large and small at companies like Bristol Myers Squibb, Genentech, Alnylam, and Abbott.

In his 16-year tenure at Heartbeat, James has introduced the health & wellness sector to a new and ambitious brand of creative product—unafraid of emotion, rich in craft, and tailored to inspire action. He offers generous pours of inspiration to the agency’s award-winning Creative team, while setting a clear vision for the agency’s future and remaining deeply committed to lasting brand ideas. The result? Personal honors such as DTC Vanguard, MM+M Pinnacle, and PM360 Elite 100, as well as creative recognition in the form of over 300 major advertising awards, from Pencils and CLIOs to Webbies and Emmys.