University of Utah Health Sciences is delighted to announce David R. Perry, M.B.A., has been named Chief Marketing Officer effective July 1.
In this key leadership position, Perry is charged with creating a comprehensive strategy for further developing and growing the reputation of the University of Utah Health Care and Health Sciences brands. He will oversee all marketing and communications functions including brand positioning, marketing research, product and content marketing, messaging strategy and public relations, as well as provide strategic counsel to university leaders, physicians and professors.
"We could not be more thrilled that David is joining our team," said Vivian Lee, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., senior vice president for university health sciences. "His experience, passion and vision are perfectly matched to ours at the University of Utah, and we look forward to continuing to build our communications and marketing successes under David's leadership."
Perry comes to the University with more than 25 years of marketing experience in fields as varied as academia, health care, technology and consumer products. Most recently, he served as Chief Marketing Officer at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Prior to Bentley, Perry led marketing and communications at Seattle Children's, a major pediatric hospital, research institute and foundation in the Pacific Northwest, and served in various marketing roles at Microsoft and Quaker Oats. Over a 10-year span at Microsoft throughout its 1990s growth surge, Perry held several leadership positions including director of the Consumer Retail Customer Unit in Microsoft's European headquarters in Paris.
"My interest in health care is rooted in personal experience," Perry said. "In 2002, our youngest son was born with a cleft lip that required craniofacial surgery. Six months later, our oldest son was diagnosed with autism. So health care became a major part of our lives and has been a primary focus ever since."
Perry was drawn to his new position at the University for many reasons including its leadership in genetics and its groundbreaking work in the areas of online patient satisfaction surveys and the development of Value Driven Outcomes (VDO), a tool that helps physicians better understand the true cost of health care.
"Above all, I was captivated by the still untapped potential at UUHS to become a national health care innovator and leader," Perry said. "I'm looking forward to being part of a smart, motivated team of individuals that will impact thousands of lives and make history."
Perry holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky and an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. He serves on the board of trustees at Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky, the University of Washington Adult Autism Clinic Advisory Board and the Corporate Executive Council of WGBH (Boston's NPR and PBS affiliate). Perry and his wife, Lauri, hope to get involved with civic and philanthropic organizations in the Salt Lake City community.