NEW YORK — Marina Maher Communications has named Jennifer O’Neill head of its healthcare practices following the recent departures of two senior leaders.

O’Neill, who was most recently Lippe Taylor’s healthcare practice leader, will oversee MMC’s two healthcare groups, MMC Health & Well-Being and RXMosaic, as managing director.

O’Neill’s position, which was crafted to align with her expertise, is an extension of the healthcare director role previously held by Michele Schimmel, who left MMC for W2O over the summer, the agency said.

O’Neill is charged with  driving growth through strategies that address changes in the healthcare industry and support clients including Novartis, Takeda and Johnson & Johnson, among others. She joins as part of the executive leadership team and will report directly to founder & CEO Marina Maher.

"We had an ambitious vision for this role," Maher said. "We searched for a builder, a leader and importantly, an innovator with a strong vision for the future of healthcare communications. We found all of these qualities in Jen and are delighted she chose to join us as we continue to create transformative programs for our healthcare clients."

O’Neill is taking charge of the healthcare practices on the heels Schimmel’s exit as well as the departure of Lisa Fern-Talbot, who was managing director of healthcare strategy and business development.

Schimmel joined W2O as global client portfolio leader in September. “I was with MMC for nine years, and I loved my time there — and  I wanted to take the next step in my career that immerses me in the communications and the future of where that discipline is going,” she said.

Fern-Talbot exited MMC after nearly four years to join Weber Shandwick, also in September, as executive VP, healthcare strategy and growth.

O’Neill, meantime, joins MMC following less than three years at Lippe Taylor. Before that, she spent more than a dozen years with InVentiv Health, which is now Syneos, and was managing director of the PR firm Chamberlain Healthcare.