Just Health PR appoints public affairs head

Just Health PR has appointed Jon Spiers to lead its new public affairs and healthcare lobbying division.

Mr Spiers, Cancer Research UK's current head of public affairs and campaigning, will join the media agency in January 2012, following a successful eight-year career at the cancer charity, reports PRWeek.

The company states that it is making the move into this area due to the growing importance of public affairs and policy issues to clients, particularly as regards the government's NHS reform plans.

As such, it has also recently appointed Harriet Smith from Munro and Forster, who will support the new business launch in a consultancy role from November 2011 onwards.

Jennie Talman, Just Health's managing director, said: "Our move into public affairs and policy will enrich our understanding of healthcare decision-making at a local, regional and national level."

Just Health PR is based in Putney and was founded in February 2006, with clients now including major firms such as Allergan, Pfizer, Sanofi, Novartis and AstraZeneca.