Avril Lee joins Burson-Marsteller in global role

Burson-Marsteller (BM) has strengthened its healthcare capabilities with the addition of Avril Lee, who joins the global PR and coms agency as  deputy global healthcare practice chair.

Based in the UK, Lee - who moves to the firm on February 19 - will partner with global healthcare practice chair Helene Ellison to expand the firm’s healthcare representation.

Commenting on the new appointment, BM’s worldwide chair and chief executive officer Don Baer said: “Avril is going to make a big contribution to helping us serve the most important healthcare clients in key markets around the world.”

For the past two years Lee has been serving as managing director of MSLGroup’s UK and EMEA Health Practices, overseeing business that included portfolio communications for Allergan.

Prior to that, she spent two years with Luther Pendragon as a director leading the AbbVie Humira business, and serving on the agency's senior leadership team, and before that she spent a decade with Ketchum London.

Lee said: “I am excited to get started expanding Burson-Marsteller’s healthcare expertise around the globe.”