JAPAN  – MS&L, one of the world's leading communications firms, today announced the appointment of Ken Hirata as director of healthcare in its Japan office.  His appointment is effective on May 1^st.

 In his new role, Hirata will oversee MS&L Japan’s healthcare accounts, including sanofi-aventis, AstraZeneca and AMD Alliance International.  He will also focus on growing the office’s healthcare practice, and will work on recruiting and training programs to help develop staff expertise in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.

“We are very pleased to have Ken join our healthcare team,” said Eric Hess, managing director of MS&L Japan.  “His market insights, media expertise and strong relationships with healthcare journalists, medical professionals and key healthcare opinion leaders will be a very strong asset to our clients and their communications programs.”

Hirata, who has more than 20 years of communications experience in the pharmaceutical industry, was most recently senior healthcare consultant with Burson-Marsteller Tokyo. Prior to that, he worked at Eli Lilly Japan for more than 10 years in their Corporate Affairs group, where he was responsible for product, corporate, advocacy and crisis/risk management communications, as well as other external communications. He also directed and managed several key product launches in the therapeutic areas of oncology, psychiatry, osteoporosis and endocrinology.

“We have been focused on building a truly global healthcare practice that delivers high-quality counsel and effective implementation across the globe,” said Monique da Silva, director of global healthcare for MS&L. “These are challenging times for the healthcare industry, and we partner with our clients to identify transformational business solutions for some of the industry’s toughest challenges.  Ken’s combined corporate and agency experience, paired with deep therapeutic experience, will strengthen our offerings in Japan to help deliver on our clients’ needs.”

Prior to his role at Eli Lilly, Hirata was with The Japan Upjohn Company and Pharmacia & Upjohn Company for nearly 10 years, where he was responsible for crisis management, product marketing support and corporate communications.

MS&L Japan was founded in 1995 as Gravitas, an independent PR agency, and became part of the Publicis Groupe and MS&L Worldwide network in 2002.  MS&L Japan has worked with more than 100 international companies to support their business and communications goals in Japan through strategic public relations and marketing campaigns. This includes extensive work in the technology, healthcare, travel and tourism, luxury and consumer products industries, as well as in the areas of Japanese cultural adaptation, facilitation and consulting services for international brands and their stakeholders.

About MS&L

MS&L is a leading global communications firm and part of MS&L Worldwide, a network of communications brands and consultancies with 54 offices in North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia, as well as an extensive affiliate network. The agency specializes in using research, insights and technology to create and execute powerful communications strategies that are critical to client success. With a unique combination of advice, advocacy and action, MS&L delivers measurable business results for many of the world's largest companies and most successful brands.

MS&L Worldwide (mslworldwide.com) is a member of the Publicis Groupe (Euronext Paris: FR0000130577), the world’s fourth largest communications group, and a global leader in digital and online advertising, media consulting, and healthcare communications. With some 45,000 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.