Sanofi-aventis appoints new communications director

Sanofi-aventis has announced the appointment of Dr Ian Weatherhead as its new UK-based director of communications.

Dr Weatherhead, who has held key communications roles at pharmaceutical companies such as Syngenta and AstraZeneca, has been appointed on the basis of his extensive experience.

His most recent role was that of UK communications and public affairs director at UCB, having previously also been responsible for communications for the firm’s research and development division.

He joins Sanofi-aventis in October 2010 as a replacement for Cressida Ward, who recently took up another role within the company.

Sanofi-aventis general manager Steve Oldfield said: “Ian will be joining us later in the year to lead communications, a critical area in supporting our UK business and our transition to a global healthcare leader.”

Last month, Sanofi-aventis published its financial results for the second quarter of 2010, reporting a 4.5 per cent year-on-year increase in its earnings-per-share figure on a constant exchange rate basis.