Two top pharmas looked outside the industry for their topcommunications executives.
Merck named Adele Ambrose, formerly EVP, communications atAT&T Wireless, to head corporate communications, capping a reorganizationof the department. Ambrose replaced Steve Kelmar, who left after learning thatgeneral counsel Bruce Kuhlik planned to split his job into separate PR andpublic affairs functions, the Star-Ledger reported. Also departing was VP,corporate communications Jessica Stoltenberg, a Kelmar hire credited withrebuilding the department after an exodus of employees last year, the papersaid.
Meanwhile, Pfizer named Estee Lauder communications chief SallySusman SVP worldwide communications and chief communications officer, reportingto chairman and CEO Jeff Kindler. She takes on responsibility for globalcommunications and joins the executive leadership team. Before joining EsteeLauder, she worked in government and handled communications for AmericanExpress.
At least one big pharma looked in-house for a PR chief, asWyeth named Wendy Kouba VP corporate communications.
Kouba reports to SVP, public affairs Marily Rhudy andassumes responsibility for global public relations and communications. Koubajoined Wyeth in 2006 and was previously VP, communications, technicaloperations and product supply. Before joining Wyeth, she held leadershippositions at Johnson & Johnson, Pharmacia, JPMorgan Chase and AlliedSignal.
From the February 01, 2008 Issue of MM+M - Medical Marketing and Media
