Hanover recruits associated director from Tonic Life

Hanover has recruited Jim Baxter as its new associate director, as the company attempts to branch out into the brand communications sector.

Mr Baxter has been hired from Tonic Life Communications and will help the traditionally corporate and public affairs-oriented business to serve pharmaceutical industry clients in a new way, reports PRWeek.

The new associate director led UK and pan-European comms strategies at Tonic Life and also spent five years in-house at Schering-Plough and Merck Sharp and Dohme, where he took the lead on brand comms.

Hanover is making this move due to the desire of several of its newest clients – including Deltex Medical and Amgen – to integrate the launch of products with new NHS outcomes.

Mr Baxter said: "Increasingly, there is a need for consultancies to provide tailored comms that address regulatory, reimbursement and brand awareness challenges in a joined-up and holistic manner."

This comes after Hanover won a new brief with UCB in September 2012 to help promote the pharmaceutical company's brand presence in the UK.