Welcome to Azur : People at the heart of science

At Azur Health Science, people are at the core of everything we do.

In this series, we introduce the team behind our scientific work—starting with our Medical Writing experts, who support clinical trials, regulatory documents, and scientific communication.

✨ Today, we’re happy to spotlight Adrian Tilly, who shares his journey, his passions, and his role as COO at Azur Health Science.

Adrian we’re so glad to have you with us for this first portrait in Welcome to Azur!

As COO (Chief Operating Officer), my role is to look after the team, to make sure that the communications and the process are followed as a team. I focus on the collaboration between everyone in the team—a team where everyone is united.

I try to create a serious but also comfortable place, where people feel well-being and enjoy coming to work.

I make sure that the updated daily operations are understandable and clear for everyone. There are a lot of different roles to manage: the coders, the other writers, even the marketing and administration side. There is respect with everyone, and it leads to a collaboration that everyone enjoys. It’s a win-win!

When I first started as a medical writer, the biggest challenge was simply being new to it—figuring out what needed to be written, and sometimes navigating the science itself.

Over time, however, I’ve come to realize that one of the biggest challenges today is working with the client’s team. Indeed, it’s about producing a document that meets high standards of quality, while also making the process enjoyable—for them and for us. In this context, clear communication is key. Moreover, I honestly believe that soft skills are just as important as writing skills. It’s about knowing how to work with people, guide the team, provide the information they need, and make them feel listened to. Ultimately, you want them to feel secure, to know that you’re in control of what’s happening.

In addition to communication, another major challenge is flexibility. For instance, sometimes, if we don’t respond quickly enough with a document or submission, the client might send it to someone else for review. Therefore, you have to stay flexible, always find creative ways to work, and adapt—even when something is imposed on you. It’s about staying positive and thinking efficiently.

Building a good relationship with the client is essential. In a funny way, it almost doesn’t matter what document you’re writing—because ultimately, it’s really about the relationship you build while working together. And that’s actually the most enjoyable part.

Moreover, it’s also part of the role of COO. What brings me the most pleasure is seeing someone grow. Being able to help someone move forward, to start a journey from point A to point B—that’s incredibly rewarding.

How long have you got? (laughs) I’ve been really lucky—my journey has been very varied. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is the importance of being resilient.

I finished a master by research, working on a project about producing fatty compounds—like the ones found in fish oil—using fungi. But I couldn’t find a job in science. For two years after my degree, I applied for many jobs. I worked at Starbucks for a while, but I didn’t enjoy it. Then I became self-employed as a wedding photographer for three years. It wasn’t growing well enough, so I stopped.

Later, my wife Sarah—who’s also the CEO of Azur Health Science—got a job as a medical writer, and we moved to Fréjus in the south of France. When the opportunity came for her, I said, “Let’s do it!” I started doing some medical writing too, though it was more about quality control of documents at first. I wanted to evolve in that field, so I applied to become a medical writer in a company.

Sarah and I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. We thought, “What if we did something ourselves?” So in 2017, we created Azur Health Science—just the two of us. We didn’t have a big vision of building a large company with lots of employees. It was very organic. We had a lot of work, and we didn’t want to say no to people. So we asked ourselves, “Maybe we should start hiring slowly?” And that’s how we’ve grown.

Now we’re aiming for 100 employees by 2028. It’s been really nice to grow organically—starting with Sarah and me, gaining responsibilities, helping other writers grow, and becoming a company big enough to market our services. I really enjoy that side of it—finding new clients through social media or other channels.

In the end, I think the biggest lesson is to be resilient. Keep moving forward, even if it’s not the direction you originally planned. Just keep going.

We were very nostalgic when we moved to Fréjus—we loved it, especially downtown on the Côte d’Azur. That’s where the name comes from.

Our logo is an olive tree. Coming from the UK, seeing an olive tree was mind-blowing. It had to be personal for us, and it felt right. It reminds us of that moment—moving to France, learning a new culture, and a new language. It’s part of our story.

I think lots of things. For instance, Sarah and I had conversations where we slowly realised we were working on a lot of rare diseases—learning about them, and gradually getting involved in the process.

Quite often, rare diseases affect children, and as a result, their lives—and the lives of their parents—are suddenly changed. It really reminds you how lucky you are not to have major health problems. Moreover, the strength of these families is truly inspiring.

All of this makes me feel really blessed. Being healthy myself, I genuinely want to play my small part in their journey—by helping bring medications that can make their lives better.

Hopefully approachable. As a COO, I don’t want people to feel like they can’t come to me and ask a question—whether it’s about work or something more personal. I want to be someone they can talk to and find solutions with.

It almost becomes Azur Health Science! (laughs) It’s true that it gets harder to maintain a work-life balance. Having children really introduces you to new hobbies. I was never into climbing or classical dance, but now my daughter loves both—and I love them too, you know?

Personally, I really enjoy cycling. Moving to France was great for that—especially with the Tour de France culture. I also love cooking. I worked in a bakery in the UK and absolutely loved it. Now I enjoy cooking for my family—it’s something that brings me joy.

I’d answer that in a funny way—because I almost don’t have a wish. The journey I’ve taken to get here has helped me grow, and just being able to snap my fingers to get something… well, I don’t think that’s necessarily a good thing.

For me, the real value lies in the journey itself—feeling like you’ve earned it, rather than just having it instantly. In a way, I already have what I wish for.

However, if I had to pick something, I’d probably say peace on earth—something simple like that. But personally, I really appreciate the feeling of moving forward on your own path. After all, the effort you put in—that’s actually the point of it all.

Thank you, Adrian, for taking the time to share your story.

Your journey shows how much resilience, curiosity, and care can shape a meaningful path. From your first steps in medical writing to co-founding Azur Health Science, you’ve built something that reflects who you are—thoughtful, approachable, and committed to helping others grow.

It’s inspiring to see how much heart you put into your work, and how you’ve turned challenges into opportunities. We’re glad to have you with us on this journey.

Thanks again, Adrian, for opening up and sharing your journey with us.

It’s been a real pleasure hearing your story, and we look forward to many more inspiring conversations here on Welcome to Azur. See you next time!

Until then, dive into Azur’s complete journey.