Freshwater appoints new health director

Freshwater has announced the appointment of Saffron Pineger, formerly of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, as its new health director.

Ms Pineger will be based in the agency's central London office and will lead its healthcare team, providing senior specialist advice to NHS clients, including clinical commissioning groups, NHS trusts, performance managers, regulators and inspectors.

She was previously head of media at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which is one of the country's largest acute NHS hospital trusts, incorporating the St Mary's, Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospitals.

Her background includes time spent as a reporter for the Trinity Mirror, and she will be tasked with providing clients with advice on issues management, stakeholder comms, staff engagement and media relations.

She will also provide clients with strategic advice and lead integrated communications projects.

Angharad Neagle, group managing director at Freshwater, said: "Her appointment will allow us to continue to grow the business in this sector and meet the needs of the greater numbers of healthcare clients seeking independent specialist advice."