Weber Shandwick launches new Healthcare business, promoting Harper & Tjugum to new UK & European Healthcare roles

Weber Shandwick today announced it has bolstered its dedicated Healthcare PR offering with the promotion of Lucie Harper to Group Managing Director, Healthcare Communications and Brian Tjugum to Head of the agency’s European Public Health practice.

Previously UK Managing Director of Healthcare Communications, the new role of Group Managing Director will see Harper further strengthen Weber Shandwick’s healthcare capabilities across the UK and drive the agency’s specialist healthcare product offerings and practice groups – including pharmaceutical marketing, medical education (DNA), food science and nutrition and consumer health – across the consultancy’s European network.

Harper joined Weber Shandwick in 2005. With over 14 years experience in healthcare public relations, Harper’s experience lies in developing, managing and directing consumer and medical media campaigns and medical education, disease awareness and patient education programmes.  Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Harper spent seven years at Shire Health London. 

Currently Deputy Managing Director of UK Healthcare Communications, Tjugum’s new role will involve building the firm’s public health capabilities across all European markets, strengthening agency relationships with key public health stakeholders and developing new client business with the public and third sectors.

Tjugum joined Weber Shandwick in 2005, serving as deputy managing director of the UK Healthcare practice, and possesses 18 years of professional health communications with experience in London, Brussels, New York and Washington, D.C. He currently leads global health campaigns in the areas of heart disease and stroke, malaria, HIV, vaccine-preventable diseases and musculoskeletal health.

Commenting on both promotions, Weber Shandwick’s UK & European CEO Colin Byrne said: “I’m delighted to announce Lucie’s and Brian’s promotions. With demonstrated growth across the UK, 2009 was a strong year for our dedicated Healthcare practice. Never has the discipline been as diverse as it is now and our formalisation of a specialist Public Health offering is a collaborative, cross-practice, EMEA-wide initiative aimed at strengthening our performance and reputation as a communications agency that is committed – via our client relationships – to preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health.”