John Neeley, Marion High School Class of 1971, is an internationally recognized leader in the pharmaceutical industry who has helped to increase access to life-changing medications around the globe. He is an active supporter of the missionary and outreach efforts and who has helped to grow a wide network of churches.
After MHS, he enrolled at Indiana University but quickly changed course and began an Electrician Apprenticeship program and ultimately achieved “journeyman” status while working for General Tire. For years, he enjoyed his work at General Tire and earned a good living. However in his late 20s he decided to pursue what he wanted most in life which was a college degree. At that time IU was offering evening courses at the Marion High School campus. With the encouragement of his Mother he started taking evening classes that ultimately led him to move to Florida and pursue college full-time. With this in mind, he moved from Marion to Florida in 1983 and enrolled at Palm Beach Atlantic University and earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration in 1985. Having excelled as an undergraduate, Neeley enrolled in Florida Atlantic University and earned a Master in Business Administration (MBA) in 1987. With Master’s degree in hand, and believing Philippians 4:13 he embarked on a career in the pharmaceutical industry. Over the next three decades, as a result of his hard work, ability to innovate, and with an aptitude for commercialization he became an internationally recognized leader in creating worldwide access to medications that have improved the lives of millions of people around the world.
Neeley’s first job in the industry was as a sales representative with Boots Pharmaceuticals a UK based company. After his success in sales he had the opportunity to move into marketing and ultimately was in charge of marketing for the Synthroid brand - one of the top 5 most prescribed products in the US. Synthroid is the primary medication used to treat hypothyroidism. In that role, he helped raise awareness for thyroid disease, and helped secure the support of President H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush in these efforts. This resulted in a Public Service Announcement filmed at the White House — which Neeley was invited and attended. Spending time with the President and First Lady was a true career highlight for him.
Most recently, Neeley worked for Shire Pharmaceuticals (2000-2018), a leading global biotech company focused on patients with rare diseases. While at Shire he served in various roles and the last 14 years at the Senior Vice President level including SVP, Head of Global Market Access & U.S. Pricing. While Shire manufactures and markets many medications, it is best known as the worldwide leader in rare diseases such as Hunters Syndrome; Fabry Disease; Gaucher Disease; Hereditary Angio Edema; Hemophilia, to name a few. They also were the makers of drugs such as Vyvanse and Adderall XR, which are frontline treatments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Thanks in part to Neeley’s leadership and dedicated service, Shire grew from a company of less than 300 employees into a multinational company with more than 20,000 employees when it was sold to Takada Pharmaceuticals for $64 billion in January 2019.
Before he retired from Shire in December 2018, his responsibilities in part included:
- Wholesale and Retail distribution
- Government Pricing & Reporting
- All government payer programs including Medicaid, Medicare Part D, VA, DoD, TriCare and Federal Supply Schedule
- All commercial HMO’s, PPO’s, PBM’s and Managed Medicaid health plans
- Developing and implementing strategic plans to optimize patient access globally for both small molecule and rare orphan drugs.
- Delivering category leading access to virtually all of Shire’s promoted products.
- Marshalling the launch of products across multiple therapeutic categories.
While Neeley has achieved great success in the world of business, nothing is more important to him than his faith and family. He and his wife, Jayma, have raised three children – Johnny, Jolie and Julia. Although his work required frequent domestic and international travel that limited his ability to participate in many community functions, he made it a top priority to be actively involved in Christ Fellowship Church headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Christ Fellowship counts more than 30,000 members across more than 10 locations, and thousands tuning in online — where he has been committed to furthering its mission and outreach programs.
He and his family’s spiritual and financial support has been instrumental in launching nine new church locations in Florida. Most recently he has helped launch a campus in the Jupiter, Fla., area, where he and his family serve and attend. These locations are all making an impact in their communities because of John’s support and others like him. He has also been part of Place of Hope, an award-winning residential foster care program that has revolutionized the foster care system in the state.
It took courage, grit and most of all faith for Neeley to leave a good job as an electrician, relocate to Florida, and return to college in his early 30s. One might say it took the spirit of a Giant to start over at that age and work his way to the top of his chosen field! He has worked incredibly hard to improve himself as a person and to reach the very top of the global pharmaceutical industry. He is a caring, compassionate, and concerned leader. With his strong coaching and leadership, he developed many top talents who have gone on to become successful senior leaders with other leading pharmaceutical companies. Despite his success, he remains humble, unassuming, grounded and most of all thankful!. He is a person that former, current, and future Marion High School students can look to as an excellent example of what someone can achieve when they receive an education from Marion Community Schools.