ABPI appoints new director of communications

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has announced the appointment of Aileen Thompson as its new director of communications, effective as of November 24th 2014.

In her new role, she will lead the organisation's communications department and will be responsible for the ABPI's engagement with all external stakeholders, including the government, NHS, media, patient groups and the wider healthcare community.

Ms Thompson joins the organisation from Innovate UK, where she served as interim director of communications. Prior to this, she worked for Vodafone for more than eight years as UK corporate comms director and head of consumer, brand and enterprise media relations.

Her career has also included stints with leading PR agencies such as Burson-Marsteller and Weber Shandwick, where her clients included leading pharmaceutical and health organisations.

ABPI chief executive Stephen Whitehead said: "Aileen's vast communications and campaigning experience and her track record of successfully tackling difficult and sensitive issues across a range of industries will be hugely beneficial to the ABPI."

The ABPI is the industry body representing research-based biopharmaceutical companies. Its members supply 90 percent of all medicines used by the NHS.