Schering-Plough has hired Joy Schmitt from Genta Incorporated as director, global product communications and advocacy relations. Schmitt’s duties in her new role include serving as the key relationship manager for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C patient communities, along with PR and advocacy activities supporting the oncology franchise outside the U.S. Schmitt reports to vice president, global product communications and advocacy relations Mary-Frances Faraji. Before joining Genta, where she was director and head of public relations, she held communications posts at Agouron Pharmaceuticals (a Pfizer company) and Roche Laboratories.
Schmitt’s appointment comes as the company is beefing up its global communications infrastructure. In December, the company appointed Gail Thornton, formerly of Pfizer Neuroscience, to head global communications.