John Hopper is a highly recognized, results driven leader, entrepreneur, and asset optimizer for corporate, nonprofit, and academic entities. Hopper’s unique domestic and international experience across a broad array of industry and non-profit sectors has brought him public acclaim – particularly in healthcare – for his ability to create and lead patient and professional collaboration across industry, non-profits, academia, and government.
After over 25 years in marketing leadership roles at WPP, Interpublic, Publicis, P&G, and Unilever, John parlayed those skills to change the paradigm in cancer research and patient advocacy. He currently serves and/or in recent years served in roles as chairman, board director, or advisor to several major healthcare organizations including Fred Hutch Cancer Center – TRACER rare cancer initiative (Advisory Board), Gastro Intestinal Cancers Alliance (GICA) – the world’s largest GI cancer consortium (Founding Co-Chair-Emeritus), SARC – global sarcoma clinical trial foundation (Board Director), National Pancreas Foundation (Former Board Director/Executive board), Rare Cancer Coalition – a subsidiary of National Organization of Rare Disorders (Co-Chairman with Jim Palma), Shepherd Therapeutics – a leading AI/Genomics company (Former Board Director), Khora – a newly launched biotech founded by Loxo founder Keith Flagherty (Advisory Board), Coherus Biotech (Advisory Panel), and the Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation (Former President Emeritus/Board Director). Leveraging his oncology passion, John, along with Jim Palma, co-created Rare Cancer Day which has received bipartisan support as a national awareness day via US Congressional Resolution through the Congressional Cancer Caucus for the past three years. Hopper was also the first rare cancer recipient of the Chan Zuckerberg Rare As One Initiative, receiving over $1 million in funds to build and expand the Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation’s patient led research initiatives.
John balances his healthcare passion with maintaining a corporate leadership position as Managing Director, TeamSpan Global Solutions – one of the world’s fastest growing privately held BPO corporation serving Fortune 200 and small/medium businesses.
Grateful for all life has bestowed, John and his three children created the Hopper-Belmont Foundation (HBF) which each year recognizes exceptional young research talent who demonstrate innovative healthcare solutions for the neediest diseases, with emphasis on cancers. Since 2020, HBF has supported 25 MD/PhDs through their Inspiration Award and Career Development Award. Many of these award winners have gone on to become assistant professors at major institutions and published in prestigious research journals forward thinking discoveries to help cure cancer.