Jovan Willford

Chief Executive Officer

Jovan Willford is an accomplished leader known for innovation and transformation, with deep experience in technology-enabled services, clinical processes, and data sciences. With a reputation for a customer-centric approach, he is committed to upholding our longstanding legacy of exceptional client service and innovation, while building on the foundation of scientific rigor and leadership Cytel is known for.

Before joining Cytel, Jovan served as the CEO and on the Board of Directors of Healthgrades and subsequently Mercury Healthcare, with a unique focus on predictive capabilities to power consumer and patient engagement in the provider market.

He spent nearly a decade in executive roles at IQVIA, a Fortune 300 company, providing advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services across the life sciences industry. During his tenure, Jovan led the merger strategy and integration between Quintiles/IMS Health bringing innovative data sciences to clinical processes; led the clinical functional service provider business across 72 countries; was a founding member of the real-world evidence team in the U.S. and Asia-Pacific; and has led commercialization teams around the world. He is also an Independent Director of DNAnexus, a leading provider of multi-omic data management and collaboration solutions.

Jovan holds an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management with majors in strategy, managerial economics, and international business. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame.