AstraZeneca appoints new global media relations head

AstraZeneca has confirmed the appointment of Esra Erkal Paler as its new head of global media relations.

Ms Erkal Paler will join the pharmaceutical company in April 2011 and will be based in its London headquarters, reporting directly to Neil McCrae, its vice-president of group corporate communications, reports PRWeek.

The newly-appointed media head comes to AstraZeneca from the UK's Advertising Standards Authority, where she has served in the role of communications chief since 2008.

Prior to this, she worked for the health and personal care business L'Oreal, spending six years as the company's director of corporate communications and external affairs.

Other previous positions held by Ms Erkal Paler include the role of corporate affairs head for personal care giant Unilever's UK and Ireland branch.

Earlier this month, AstraZeneca announced that its developmental blood thinner treatment Brilique has been granted marketing approval in Europe.