Wyeth hired Timothy Cost to head its corporate affairs
department, replacing Marily Rhudy, who is retiring.
Cost joins the company from Philadelphia food services firm
Aramark, where he was EVP, corporate affairs. He becomes senior vice president,
corporate affairs, reporting to president and CEO Bernard Poussot.
Prior to joining Aramark in 2003, he had spent many years in
the pharmaceutical industry, serving as SVP, communications and strategy for
Centocor, VP, investor relations and corporate intelligence for Bristol-Myers
Squibb and SVP, corporate affairs for Pharmacia. Poussot said in a statement:
“His extensive and broad experience, especially in the biotechnology and
pharmaceutical sectors, will help us as we continue to deliver innovative new
products and navigate the changing business environment.”
Rhudy joined Wyeth in 1993 as assistant VP, professional
relations for pharmaceuticals and worked her way up while building the public
affairs function, rising to SVP, corporate public affairs in 2004.
She had previously served on the White House Health Care
Professionals Task Force on Health Care Reform.
Poussot credited Rhudy with
having “built an outstanding public affairs team that has forged strong
external relationships to raise the level of awareness of Wyeth's contributions
to healthcare.”