FTI Consulting, Inc. announces the appointment of senior managing director Charlene MacDonald as the head of Healthcare & Life Sciences for the Americas in the Strategic Communications segment. She will report to Brian Kennedy, the Americas head of Strategic Communications.
Ms. MacDonald is an experienced healthcare policy, issue advocacy and coalition-building expert. Since joining in 2018, she has bolstered FTI Consulting’s healthcare and life sciences offering both inside and out of the Beltway, working alongside the firm’s sector and public affairs professionals, as well as FTI Consulting’s experts in the Corporate Finance & Restructuring and Economic Consulting segments, to generate new growth opportunities.
In her new role, Ms. MacDonald will lead a multidisciplinary team of experts advising organizations on political, financial and reputational matters, helping clients engage stakeholders effectively through compelling campaigns informed by research and deep subject-matter expertise. Her nearly two decades of experience in healthcare policy strengthens FTI Consulting’s leading Healthcare & Life Sciences offering and ability to navigate clients through the increasingly complex regulatory landscape.
“Charlene’s depth of experience has made her a sought-after resource for healthcare companies facing complex, interconnected business and regulatory challenges,” Mr. Kennedy said. “Her experience as a policy advisor on Capitol Hill makes her well-suited to counsel clients in a multidisciplinary fashion, addressing their most pressing financial, regulatory and political challenges in the ever-changing healthcare landscape. Her leadership atop this critical sector will be a tremendous asset to our firm and clients in the Americas.”
Ms. MacDonald added, “The change in administration and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a critical inflection point to the healthcare industry. It is more important than ever for organizations to be well equipped to navigate the evolving healthcare landscape, including economic pressures, changing consumer expectations and fluctuating financial markets.”
Ms. MacDonald came to FTI Consulting following nearly eight years on Capitol Hill, most recently as Senior Policy Advisor to House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland, where she played a key role in the development and execution of congressional Democrats’ strategy related to health policy issues. She previously served as Senior Policy Advisor for Medicare & Social Security at the Senate Budget Committee, and as Deputy Chief of Staff to Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.), directing policy operations and advising on legislative and regulatory issues in health policy, including Medicare payment systems and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
In the private sector, Ms. MacDonald has held positions with several prominent healthcare trade associations, including the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Osteopathic Association and American Clinical Laboratory Association.