AstraZeneca hires new global head of communications

AstraZeneca has announced the appointment of Ali Perkins as global head of communications for the its research and development units.

She takes over the role formerly occupied by Richard Burton, who joined BrandPie last August, and will be tasked with overseeing AstraZeneca's innovative medicines and early development biotech unit and global medicines development functions.

Ms Perkins previously served as UK head of PR at Microsoft, joining the technology giant in 2006 and occupying the position for seven years, before becoming director of privacy and social business strategy in 2013 and leaving to set up her own consultancy in 2014.

In her post at AstraZeneca, she will be based at the company's new global headquarters and research and development centre in Cambridge, construction of which is due for completion by the end of this year.

Ms Perkins told the Holmes Report that her role will involve "enhancing the company's scientific reputation across a broad range of internal and external stakeholders".