(Washington, D.C.) — Marking a new era for the organization, today the board of directors of the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) announced that David Marin has been named its new President and CEO, following a thorough search. Marin brings three decades of public policy and coalition-building experience to PCMA and joins the organization from Viatris, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, where he was global head of government affairs, public policy, and advocacy.

Concurrently, the PCMA board announced that Brendan Buck, a seasoned public affairs leader, will serve in the new role of Chief Communications Officer. Both David and Brendan will begin January 20, 2026.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this exceptional organization at a critically important moment,” said Marin. “Policymakers at all levels are rightly focused on costs, affordability, and sustainability – for patients, employers, and health care systems overall. Our promise is to be a driver of that conversation in Washington and state capitals around the nation. The role our members play promoting affordability has never been more important, and my top priority is to make that value properly understood.”

“David Marin is the ideal leader for PCMA at a time of significant change in our industry,” said PCMA Board Chair Adam Kautzner, President of Express Scripts and Evernorth Care Management. “David is an energetic and results-oriented executive with a sharp perspective on politics, public policy, and the health care sector. He has the confidence of the board to revamp PCMA and ensure it is a premier advocacy organization respected for its expertise and impact. As an industry, we are dedicated to affordability and making sure patients can access the treatments they need. PCMA has a mission to ensure policymakers understand the value that PBMs provide to drive down health costs, and we know that David is the right leader for our future.”

“I am also immensely grateful to Lucia Lebens, who served PCMA as its interim CEO, for her leadership during this period of transition,” continued Kautzner. “Lucia will continue to be a valued member of our executive team, leading PCMA’s government affairs operations and strengthening our voice with policymakers.”

PCMA also today announced the appointment of Brendan Buck to serve as its Chief Communications Officer, a newly elevated position within the organization that reflects a commitment to telling the story of the industry. Most recently at a public affairs consulting firm, Brendan previously served in top communications roles for two speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Brendan is a high-impact leader with an unparalleled background in congressional politics, communications, and media,” said Kautzner. “Having served at the highest levels in key strategy roles, he is widely respected for his vision and insight, and we are thrilled to welcome him to PCMA.”

“There is no bigger public policy challenge than the rising cost of health care, and this is an incredible opportunity to help shape solutions and elevate the value provided by our member companies,” said Buck.

About David Marin:

David Marin joins PCMA from the global pharmaceutical company Viatris, where he served as Global Head of Government Affairs, Public Policy, and Advocacy. He is a veteran public affairs leader known for his sophisticated understanding of the intersections of policy, politics, and business. David has earned a reputation as a persuasive storyteller, guiding industries and organizations as they position themselves as trusted thought leaders.

He was previously Managing Principal of the Podesta Group, a leading Washington, D.C. public affairs firm, where he launched the strategic communications practice and led the firm’s advocacy work for dozens of clients, including Deloitte, Mylan, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, CrossFit, the golf industry, BP, Wells Fargo, and many others.

Before joining the Podesta Group, David was the GOP Staff Director of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, where he led a wide array of congressional investigations and shepherded to passage more than a dozen good-government bills. He also served as the Staff Director of the Select Committee that investigated the government’s response to Hurricane Katrina.

He is a graduate of Harvard College and earned his Juris Doctorate from the American University Washington College of Law.

About Brendan Buck:

Brendan Buck comes to PCMA from Seven Letter, a public affairs agency, where he was partner and specialized in health sector clients, leading numerous health care campaigns. Alongside his consulting work, Brendan was an on-air political analyst for NBC News and MSNOW, as well as a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times.

Before that, Brendan spent more than a decade on Capitol Hill. He was counselor to House Speaker Paul Ryan, leading messaging and communications strategy for the speaker and the broader House Republican leadership team. Earlier, Brendan served as communications director at the House Ways and Means Committee, with its jurisdiction over tax, trade, and health care policy.

Brendan earlier was vice president for communications at America’s Health Insurance Plans. At AHIP, he was the insurance industry’s top spokesman and drove a major campaign on health care affordability.

Prior to that, Brendan was press secretary to House Speaker John Boehner. Brendan was also on the 2012 Romney-Ryan presidential campaign, serving as press secretary to the Vice President nominee. He held several other senior communications roles on Capitol Hill, including for later-Speaker Kevin McCarthy and former Rep. Tom Price.

In 2022, Brendan was a Resident Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics. POLITICO named him to its inaugural Power 30 list in 2017, and in 2020, PR Week named him to their annual ’40 Under 40’. He was also named a ‘40 Under 40’ alumnus by the University of Georgia, which is where you can find him many Saturdays during football season.

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PCMA is the national association representing America’s pharmacy benefit companies. Pharmacy benefit companies are working every day to secure savings, enable better health outcomes, and support access to quality prescription drug coverage for more than 289 million patients.