Former Horizon Therapeutics chief communications officer Geoff Curtis has launched Marshall Curtis Communications, a consulting firm. 

Curtis created the consultancy as a way to keep his “toes in the water” as he embarks on the next stage of his career. The shop offers services in strategy, advisory, positioning and coaching, according to its website. 

“I’m a communicator at heart, love the field, love helping clients and doing what I can to further vision strategy and staff development,” Curtis said. “That was the rationale. I wanted to keep close to the industry and help some companies coming along that may need some assistance.”

The name Marshall Curtis Communications is a reflection of his middle name, one that’s been passed down for generations in his family. Curtis said it speaks to how personally he takes the work he does for others. 

Curtis is the only employee, but he said, depending on client opportunities, he may bring on other consultants with different skillsets. 

Curtis previously served as EVP of corporate affairs and chief communications officer at Horizon Therapeutics before it was acquired by Amgen last fall for $27.8 billion.

“I’m looking to use the experience that I’ve not only held throughout my career, but specifically most recently at Horizon, where we reshaped the narrative of the brand and the reputation of the company,” Curtis said of the team he built there from one person. 

Since his departure, Curtis has been participating in a leadership and society fellowship at the University of Chicago designed for people transitioning from their primary career to find a path through the lens of social impact.

With six weeks left in the program, Curtis launched Marshall Curtis Communications as a way to stay active in the field as he prepares for his next venture, starting at the end of this year. Curtis didn’t share what he has in the works other than it’s a “pivot away from traditional communications,” but said he’ll likely split his time between the consultancy and another full-time role. 

Marshall Curtis Communications is finalizing agreements with clients, mainly in biotech and pharma, though it is not limited to healthcare, Curtis said.  

Curtis is looking to work with early stage companies to shape their brands, vision and strategy and plans to offer expertise in structuring account functions as well as engagements in coaching and mentoring. 

Curtis is financially backing the venture himself. 

“Helping a company grow from a brand reputation vision standpoint can extend beyond the biotech boundaries,” Curtis said. “If they are purpose-driven and I believe in what they’re doing from a larger impact standpoint, in the industry or beyond, I’m willing to jump in and do what I can to help.”

Prior to Horizon, Curtis had stints at Edelman as SVP of health media and Real Chemistry as group director of media.

This article originally appeared on PRWeek US.