MS&L London has recruited two highly experienced PR professionals with impressive national and international standing to direct its healthcare division.

With 20 years of healthcare communications experience in the US, UK, and internationally, Judith Cranford has been appointed as its new head of healthcare at MS&L London as of January 2008. In addition, Nigel Breakwell, also with 20 years experience working for all top ten pharmaceutical companies, has joined MS&L London as interim head of healthcare until Cranford starts her new role.

Cranford has held key management positions with PR agencies, professional medical societies and patient advocacy organizations in both the UK and the US, working across a breadth of therapeutic areas including arthritis, cardiovascular, critical care, dermatology, epilepsy, obesity, oncology, osteoporosis and women’s health.

She is the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) in the United States, where she directed efforts to raise greater awareness of the condition as a national and global public health concern.  Prior to this, Cranford worked at Ruder Finn (London) where she led teams working on national and global pre-launch, launch and post-launch programs as well as pan-European and global advocacy initiatives.  She has extensive experience in the areas of strategic counsel, advocacy and stakeholder relations, professional relations and education, policy and issues management and media relations.

Nigel Breakwell has provided strategic counsel, issues management and brand direction to many global and UK accounts for all of the top ten pharmaceutical companies. His therapeutic experience covers all major disease areas particularly: cardiovascular disease (including diabetes and stroke), CNS disorders, infectious diseases, HIV and AIDS. His previous positions within London PR agencies include director, head of UK Healthcare, MD of global health operations and CEO.  As well as currently leading the healthcare division at MS&L London, a key part of his new role will be to help develop European business for the agency.

“MS&L London has a significant legacy in healthcare and pharmaceutical public relations,” said Stuart Wilson, CEO of MS&L London. “These important new senior hires are part of our ongoing commitment to reinforce our already strong experience in the healthcare sector.  As head of one of the largest patient groups in the USA, Judith has a significant international profile which, when combined with her considerable experience and strong agency background, makes her the ideal combination for this role. Nigel brings a huge wealth of experience and knowledge of the UK marketplace in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector and he has a very positive reputation in this field. He brings real strategic insight and a great awareness of the international pharmaceutical marketplace,” he said.

MS&L London recently won Launch of the Year for its work on Acomplia (rimonabant) at the 2007 Communiqué Awards which recognize excellence in healthcare communications. The judges praised the team, which included MS&L’s sister agency Discovery London, for “a great example of a fully integrated launch” with a “clear, shared vision.”

MS&L London is a full service consultancy with more than 80 consultants who provide a broad range of public relations expertise for both international and domestic clients across key commercial sectors such as ethical & consumer healthcare; food, drink & nutrition; beauty & wellbeing; IT & telecommunications; financial & professional services; consumer electronics; government & public sector.

About Manning Selvage & Lee
MS&L is one of the world’s leading global public relations firms. Headquartered in New York, MS&L has 46 offices throughout North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia-Pacific, as well as an extensive global affiliate network.  The agency meets the needs of global and local clients by providing best-in-class services in consumer marketing PR, healthcare PR, corporate communications and technology communications, as well as industry-leading work in digital communications.  MS&L won PRWeek’s Best Use of Internet/New Media Award in both 2006 and 2007.

MS&L is a member of the Publicis Groupe(Euronext Paris: FR0000130577 and NYSE: PUB), the world’s fourth largest communications group, and a global leader in digital and online advertising, media consulting, and healthcare communications. With some 42,000 professionals in 104 countries, the Groupe’s activities cover advertising through three global advertising networks:  Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, as well as through its two multi-hub networks Fallon Worldwide and 49%-owned Bartle Bogle Hegarty; media agencies with two worldwide networks ZenithOptimedia and Starcom MediaVest Group; and marketing services, including digital and interactive communications through Digitas, relationship and direct marketing, public and media relations, corporate and financial communications, multicultural communications, and event communications. The Groupe is also the world leader in healthcare communications. Web site: www.publicisgroupe.com.