James is President of AbbVie Japan, leading nearly 1,500 employees on the mission of patient centricity and bringing cutting edge innovation to patients in Japan. He has a consistent and extensive track record of driving industry-leading employee engagement and business success across a large and complex organization. His strengths include general management, best-in-class new product launch success, business & financial planning, business development, co-promotion management, market access, government affairs and industry advocacy leadership.

 

James is very active in the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Association, and has served as the Japan Executive Committee Chairperson since 2020.

 

Prior to joining AbbVie in 2015, James was the President of Merck KGAA in Japan. He also launched the first vaccine division in Japan for Pfizer after the acquisition of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. During that period, James led a broad coalition of physicians, patient groups and policy stakeholders to drive historical policy change leading to full reimbursement of many key pediatric vaccines.

 

James has lived in Japan for over 20 years and is fluent in Japanese. He holds a BA in Psychology from Hampden-Sydney University, an MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and an MBA from The Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University.  He is also a certified executive coach and member of the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches.