AstraZeneca makes changes to corporate affairs team

AstraZeneca has announced a series of changes to its global corporate affairs team, with Esra Erkal-Paler, Neil Burrows and Ali Perkins handed new roles.

Ms Erkal-Paler has been promoted to the position of head of global external comms, overseeing global media strategy and financial comms, corporate brand, digital, creative and content, corporate reporting, strategic business development comms and external comms in Sweden, reports PRWeek.

She joined the firm in 2011 from the UK Advertising Standards Authority and served as head of global media relations. Following her promotion, Mr Burrows has been hired by AstraZeneca to take over her former role.

Meanwhile, Ms Perkins – former UK PR head at Microsoft – has joined the pharmaceutical company as head of comms for global medicines development, innovative medicine and early development.

Ms Erkal-Paler and Ms Perkins will both report to the company's interim vice-president of corporate affairs Rich Buckley following their appointments.

The pharmaceutical giant's global corporate affairs team is based at its London site, which currently serves as the firm's worldwide headquarters until the completion of its new purpose-built facility in Cambridge.