Ketchum director to join rival agency

Ketchum’s Catherine Barnett is set to part company with the agency for a new role at Cohn & Wolfe.

According to PR Week, the director will vacate her current position in March and join Cohn & Wolfe’s healthcare team as a board director.

In her new role, Ms Barnett will be working alongside the agency’s existing healthcare directors Alison Wright and Jo Spadaccino.

She joined Ketchum as an associate director in 2006, having previously worked as a brand communications manager at AstraZeneca.

Cohn & Wolfe is looking to fill gaps in its healthcare team following the recent departure of several senior employees, the publication reports.

Healthcare directors Fiona McMillan and Rebecca Galbraith were dismissed by the firm earlier this month on the grounds of gross misconduct.

The pair, who are believed to deny any wrongdoing, had already resigned from the agency in December and were working out six-month notice periods.