Porter Novelli appoints UK health and wellness head

Porter Novelli has announced the appointment of Mary Smiddy as its new head of health and wellness for the UK.

Ms Smiddy joins the agency from Weber Shandwick Australia, where she was a senior vice-president, while her former employers also include Edelman, Burson-Marsteller and GlaxoSmithKline.

She joins at a time when Porter Novelli is expanding its women's health and respiratory portfolio, bringing with her experience of working with clients including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, AstraZeneca and Bayer HealthCare.

Her appointment follows the recruitment of Paul George as global director of health and wellness earlier this year.

Sally Ward, senior partner and managing director at Porter Novelli UK, said: "Mary has an impressive track record in building healthcare teams in several markets around the world and brings a wealth of ethical, consumer and animal healthcare experience to Porter Novelli."

Porter Novelli's client base includes pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim and Teva, as well as high-profile brands such as Procter and Gamble, Gillette and BT.