Young Achiever in Healthcare Communications

Summary of work

This is Julia Kendrick, a consummate communications professional who thrives on ‘the challenge’. In 2012, Julia joined my department and quickly mastered a new role of in-house PR Counsel for Allergan, bringing consumer-focused insights and fresh ideas at a challenging time. 2012 was a crisis year for breast aesthetics due to the criminal activity of French implant manufacturer, PIP. Given the breadth, depth and sustained nature of the issues, Julia was brought in-house to augment Allergan’s Corporate Affairs and PR team. She was responsible for delivering strategic and tactical PR responses to manage the media fallout and restore confidence in the industry, managing not only the UK rollout but also those for seven European countries. Julia became integral to teams outside the traditional PR role, including advertising, strategic marketing, merchandising and sales force support. All this was achieved whilst working two days per week at the PR agency, where she continued to drive existing clients’ business, provided instrumental support to six new business pitches and lead the specialist media team. Following her sterling work in 2012, Julia was offered a newly-created full-time PR management role in Allergan’s Medical Aesthetics business, which she commenced in January 2013. That is one very busy and impactful year!

Judges comments

This was a hotly contested category with some hugely impressive finalists but what really stood out about Julia was her self-awareness, her supreme confidence and her presence, but without the slightest hint of arrogance.

We were impressed by her clarity of thinking and by her breadth of experience and what she was able to demonstrate was the immense integrity she’d shown in making some of the choices she’d had to make over and above choosing the easy way and the low-hanging fruit. It is for these reasons we’re really proud to announce Julia as this year’s young achiever.