Who we are.

We provide tailored, innovative solutions to help health and life sciences companies with their clinical development and commercialization journeys, maximizing patient access.

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Your market-leading commercialization partner.

Leveraging our connected capabilities, we guide clients through every critical stage of their asset’s lifecycle, driven by insights and technology. Our tailored solutions are designed to meet each client’s unique needs, helping them reimagine healthcare to create better outcomes for patients. Together, we maximize value at every opportunity while shaping a healthier future for all.

Our evolution.

In 2022, Inizio was formed by uniting the strengths and unrivaled expertise of Ashfield, founded in 1999, and Huntsworth, established in 1983. With their rich histories and decades of experience, Inizio’s formation combined carefully acquired capabilities, purposefully designed to deliver exceptional value to clients. Today, our global commercial services help clients navigate each pivotal moment in their asset’s lifecycle—from discovery to post-launch—with expertise across all 14 therapeutic areas.

What makes us, Inizio?

Inizio brings a world of possibilities to explore with our collective of industry experts. We are guided by our five commitments that allow our leaders to constantly grow and help us collectively build a stronger more successful business.

We empower everyone

We do the right thing

We work as one

We ask “what if?”

We rise to the challenge

Our leadership team.

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Paul Taaffe

CEO, Inizio

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Paul Taaffe

CEO, Inizio

Paul was appointed as CEO of Inizio in November 2021. Before then, he served as CEO of Huntsworth for nearly six years. Paul has wide experience in communications and marketing from roles such as the Director of Communications at Groupon, the international e-commerce company. Prior to that, he enjoyed a 20 year career with Hill & Knowlton Inc, the global communications consultancy and subsidiary of WPP plc, including nine years as its Chairman and CEO. Throughout this time he advised many Blue Chip and international clients across all geographies, sectors and services.

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Ryan Quigley

COO, Inizio

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Ryan Quigley

COO, Inizio

Previously COO at UDG Healthcare, before being appointed to Inizio in November 2021, Ryan provides strategic leadership across our global divisions by working with the executive management teams to establish and deliver long-term strategic growth plans. He has over 25 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry in commercial leadership roles. Prior to joining UDG, Ryan was Regional Vice President Region South, Immunology and HCV lead for AbbVie Western Europe and Canada.

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Ben Jackson

CFO, Inizio

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Ben Jackson

CFO, Inizio

Ben was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Inizio following the acquisition of UDG Healthcare, having previously been CFO of Huntsworth Plc. Ben joined Huntsworth Plc in September 2016, stepping up to the Board in 2019. Before joining the team, he worked at ITE Plc, and International Exhibitions Organizer, as Group Financial Controller. Prior to that Ben worked at Royal Bank of Scotland in banking roles, after training and qualifying with Deloitte in London.

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Grainne McAleese

Deputy CFO, Inizio

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Grainne McAleese

Deputy CFO, Inizio

Grainne became part of the Inizio team after joining UDG Healthcare in June 2018 as the UDG Head of Finance, with responsibility for Group Finance, Ashfield Finance Functions, Global Procurement & Real Estate, and Finance Transformation. Prior to UDG, she worked as General Manager, Ireland and Vice President, Finance with Alexion, a rare disease US biotech company, leading their expansion in Ireland and a €500 million investment in biologics and packaging facilities in Ireland. Grainne previously spent ten years working with Elan Pharmaceuticals in the United States and Ireland in various corporate, strategic and group finance roles. Externally, Grainne is a Board Director for Science Foundation Ireland, the national funding body for STEM research in Ireland.

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Stephanie Hasenbos-Case

Chief Human Resources Officer, Inizio

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Stephanie Hasenbos-Case

Chief Human Resources Officer, Inizio

Stephanie joined Inizio as the Global Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) in September 2022. She leads Inizio's global talent strategy and HR team, focusing on transforming the HR organization to deliver a best-in-class experience for our people and differentiating Inizio in the market as a global employer of choice. With over 25 years of international experience as a strategy and management consultant, corporate leader, Chief Human Resources Officer and Board member, Stephanie brings a wealth of global knowledge and expertise from across various industries including professional services, financial services, and engineering/construction.

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Neil Jones

Group Corporate Development Director & Head of Group Infrastructure, Inizio

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Neil Jones

Group Corporate Development Director & Head of Group Infrastructure, Inizio

Neil is an experienced Executive Director. He was the former CFO & COO of Huntsworth, having joined the Group in early 2016. Before joining Huntsworth, Neil was CFO for a number of UK-listed public companies in the B2B international exhibition sector, having originally qualified as an accountant with PWC in the early 90’s. Neil now leads M&A activities and the support functions for Inizio. He also acts as CEO for the wider Group’s Communications Division, Accordience which houses predominantly non-healthcare PR agencies, and acts as a Non-Executive Director on two public companies listed in New York and London.

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Colin Stanley

Global President,
Inizio Advisory

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Colin Stanley

Global President,
Inizio Advisory

Serving as Advisory's Global President since September 2019, Colin Stanley has extensive experience in Senior Executive roles. He has been responsible for a business unit of 3,000 employees globally, providing strategic resourcing and functional services. He also held a number of roles during his 20-year career at ICON, including Chief Operating Officer of DOCS and Vice President of Clinical Operations in Asia.

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Elaine Ferguson

Global President,
Inizio Medical

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Elaine Ferguson

Global President,
Inizio Medical

Joining Medistrava in 2015, Elaine helped double the size of the organization through organic growth and acquisition to create a fully integrated medical, health economics and market access platform. Now, she joins us as President of Inizio Medical. As a trained neuropsychologist, Elaine has enjoyed a career in research and clinical practice before joining the industry, combining her background in science and behavior to drive evidence-based strategies that apply to real-world healthcare challenges.

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Reid Connolly

Global President, Inizio Evoke
CEO, Evoke

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Reid Connolly

Global President, Inizio Evoke
CEO, Evoke

As CEO & Founder of Evoke, Reid leads the organization globally. Reid founded Evoke in 2006 in pursuit of a simple yet powerful idea—to make health more human™. This idea caught fire with like-minded clients who were hungry for rich, insight-driven strategies that drive real change for brands and people.

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Greg Flynn

Global President,
Inizio Engage

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Greg Flynn

Global President,
Inizio Engage

Joining Ashfield in 2005 as a Regional Account Director in the UK, Greg has since worked with our teams across the UK, Japan and the US. He established and ran our joint venture in Japan before moving to the US in 2017 to lead Engage before his appointment as President of Engage in September 2019.

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Our capabilities.

Using our connected suite of capabilities, we deliver expert guidance at each pivotal moment, maximizing asset potential and impact across therapeutic areas.

  • Inizio Advisory

    Through our connected capabilities in market research, strategic and management consulting, and brand alignment, we help global life science and healthcare companies on every stage of their product and patient journey.

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  • Inizio Medical

    Combining complex scientific understanding with creativity, Inizio Medical creates compelling content and engages communities across the spectrum of healthcare. We deliver medical communications, medical affairs, real world evidence and outcomes research.

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  • Inizio Evoke

    Inizio Evoke is a global health marketing, communications, and transformation platform unlocking growth through data-driven insight and human centricity.

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  • Inizio Engage

    Combining our unique mix of consultation, creation, and activation expertise with the latest technology, we design and deliver tailored solutions that inspire lasting change.

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  • Inizio Biotech

    Providing best-in-class services across the clinical development and commercialization journey, our biotech solutions are highly personalized and coordinated through a single strategic point of contact to help maximize the value of your asset.

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Your market-leading commercialization partner.

Leveraging our connected suite of capabilities, our experts will guide you through each pivotal moment in your asset’s lifecycle, creating tailored solutions that simplify the complex, unlock value, and enhance treatment outcomes.