Alvarez & Marsal hired Christopher Smith as managing director and JoyAnn Book and Philip Handal as senior directors to lead the firm’s healthcare industry group’s technology advisory and transformation services.
“Technology is the major enabler of transformation across the healthcare ecosystem, unlocking value and providing significant impact through digitally driven change. This has been accelerated significantly as the industry continues to adapt to the dynamic conditions through the course of the pandemic,” Martin McGahan, managing director and co-head of A&M’s healthcare industry group, said. “Our offering supports the full spectrum of digital and technology needs and capabilities across strategy, effectiveness, value optimization, digital and technical transformations, analytics cloud and M&A in the market. Chris, JoyAnn and Phil’s collective experience enhances our IT performance, digital health and transformation and transaction support capabilities with deep industry-grounded hands-on senior leadership and independent perspectives that our clients look to us for.”
Smith, based in Los Angeles, has nearly 30 years of healthcare consulting, direct client and industry experience spanning health plans, providers, health systems, PBMs, health services and healthcare technology organizations. He also has experience leading healthcare organizations through critical challenges, including strategy, IT effectiveness, digital and analytics transformation and M&A. Prior to joining A&M, Smith served as a senior partner and business and technology transformation leader in Deloitte Consulting’s healthcare industry practice.
Book, based in Phoenix, has more than 15 years of experience leading healthcare information technology data and digital transformation across big data, analytics, technology architecture and IT infrastructure. She has also designed and developed patient and provider digital enablement and experience management for MCOs, health plans, systems and provider groups. Previously, Book served as chief information and digital officer of Copa Health, leading the company’s data infrastructure and technology ecosystem and the expansion of its digital capabilities.
Handal, based in Chicago, will focus on leveraging technology to enable enhanced clinical outcomes and operational efficiencies. He advises on IT strategy, M&A diligence and integration, digital and technology transformation and data governance. Prior to joining A&M, Handal spent eight years with Grant Thornton’s digital transformation practice, where he was responsible for technology across the healthcare sector.
“We take a fact-based, 360-degree approach to helping clients navigate challenges, improve performance and maximize value, as evidenced by our recent report revealing the drastic impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare economy,” Peter Urbanowicz, managing director and co-head of A&M’s healthcare industry group, said. “The ever-expanding use of technology as a healthcare solution requires the operational expertise and leadership, action, results credo that A&M is known for. Chris, JoyAnn and Phil bring extensive experience to address clients’ challenges with innovative, forward-thinking solutions to transform their operations.”
