We are a Commercial Acceleration Firm
Our name derives from the words acceleration + catalyst.
We believe when companies face pivotal moments, experienced leaders with robust strategies and focused execution can have transformational impact in the growth trajectory of their companies.
Acelyst offers consulting and C-suite fractional leadership with AI tech-enabled and agency supported services.
Our purpose is to help those leaders and companies achieve audacious goals.
Our founders
Marla Kessler
Founder and co-CEO
Marla Kessler is a seasoned healthcare executive with a track record of scaling and transforming businesses across life sciences, advisory, tech/SaaS, and real-world data. She has held senior roles at companies including Pfizer, McKinsey, IQVIA, and Datavant, serving as CMO, Chief Customer Officer, and SVP of Strategy across the U.S. and Europe. Marla brings a distinctive mix of analytical rigor, creative thinking, and team empowerment. She serves on a public board and is known for her commitment to mentoring, storytelling, and making a human impact. She holds an M.B.A. from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a B.S. in Economics from Arizona State.
Nikos Georgiades
Founder and co-CEO
Nikos Georgiades is a global executive with over 25 years of leadership in pharmaceuticals, technology, and AI, with deep expertise in strategy, P&L management, operations, and data-driven innovation. He is currently co-CEO of Acelyst, co-founder of CHOIR AI, and a Senior Expert Advisor to McKinsey. He previously held executive roles at Novartis, including Global Head of Commercial Execution, Global Head of Digital, and was a member of the Pharma Executive Committee. Nikos holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Caltech and degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. Based in the NY/NJ area, he enjoys endurance sports, music, and time with his four children.
Our Clients and Career Experience
Our Story
Turning a personal passion into a uniquely valuable service.
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Working at highly successful companies with impressive thinkers, doers, and leaders inspired us. It helped us learn, lead through vision, build high performing teams, and deliver exceptional financial results. In recent years, we kept meeting executives and entrepreneurs who wanted that kind of expertise or experience but were not ready to invest in it full-time, or they want the flexibility to tap into specific expertise that was relevant to them at the moment.
Your success is our sole focus. Acelyst provides you with seasoned leadership and invaluable experience to drive your growth. You tap into a powerful network of senior executives, accessing strategic and operational expertise forged at the world's premier companies. We empower your growing organization, especially during pivotal transformations, by integrating the best strategic, tech-forward capabilities to your advantage.
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Working together, we will design and execute solutions for your business. Our goal is to plug-in where your business needs us and help you accelerate growth to move to the next stage of your company's success.