Top Ascension marketing executive Nick Ragone is set to join healthcare company Jefferson as EVP and chief marketing and communications officer on January 16. 

In a LinkedIn post, Ragone said he is “thrilled” to announce the move and join the company’s mission “to improve lives by reimagining healthcare and higher education.” 

Ragone will oversee marketing, communications, public affairs and consumer experience across Jefferson’s offerings. The company includes Jefferson Health, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health Plans. Ragone will report to Jefferson CEO Dr. Joe Cacchione. 

Ragone joins Jefferson from healthcare company Ascension after almost a decade with the Catholic nonprofit healthcare organization. 

“It’s been an honor to serve Ascension as chief marketing officer over the past decade, leading the largest rebrand in healthcare history,” Ragone said on LinkedIn. He also noted the creation of the Ascension Charity Classic, which he said is the most charitable event on PGA Tour Champions.  

Ragone served as EVP and chief marcomms officer at Ascension, starting in 2019. He was promoted from chief marcomms officer in 2016. Ragone joined Ascension in 2014 as chief communications officer.

Previously, Ragone worked at Ketchum for more than eight years, starting as VP and media specialist in 2002 and ending his tenure at the Omnicom Group agency as partner and director in its Washington, DC, office in 2014.

Ragone declined additional comment.

Jefferson is a healthcare company covering the greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey region. It has 42,000 employees across healthcare provider Jefferson Health, national doctoral research university Thomas Jefferson University and nonprofit organization Jefferson Health Plans.

Jefferson and Lehigh Valley Health Network said in December that they have signed a non-binding letter of intent to combine. The deal would create a 30-hospital system in Pennsylvania and New Jersey with 62,000 employees; Cacchione would serve as CEO. 

This article originally appeared on PRWeek US.