Ruder Finn’s healthcare chief departs to join Bayer

Ruder Finn has confirmed that its head of healthcare Claire Martin is leaving the agency for a new role with pharmaceutical firm Bayer.

According to PR Week, she will relocate to Germany in the new year to take up a position in Bayer’s global market access division.

Meanwhile, managing director of Ruder Finn Nick Leonard said that the London-based company is currently seeking a replacement for Ms Martin and aims to make an appointment in early 2010.

Ms Martin has over 12 years of experience in the healthcare PR agency, having implemented communications strategies on a UK, European and global level for a variety of organisations.

According to the Ruder Finn website, she is passionate about “driving creative, results-orientated healthcare communications programmes that improve patient outcomes”.

Based in Leverkusen, Bayer’s healthcare division is separated into four operating units – consumer care, medical care, animal health and Bayer Schering Pharma, which deals with prescription medicines.