together we are huntsworth

Mr. FitzGerald is the former CEO of UDG Healthcare plc, the leading international provider of clinical, commercial, communication, and packaging services to the healthcare industry. During his tenure as CEO from 2000 to 2016, he expanded the business from a mainly Ireland-based distribution services business into a multi-faceted and multi-national healthcare services group, operating across 20 countries. During that period, the company’s market capitalization increased by more than 500 percent and earnings grew at a compound annual rate of more than 20 percent. Mr. FitzGerald is credited with leading and seamlessly integrating more than 30 acquisitions into the parent company. Education: Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School (master’s, business studies), University College Dublin (bachelor’s, commerce)

Paul Taaffe was appointed as CEO of Huntsworth on 7 April 2015. Paul has wide experience in communications and marketing, most recently as the Director of Communications at Groupon, the international e-commerce company. Prior to that, he enjoyed a 20 year career with Hill & Knowlton Inc, the global communications consultancy and subsidiary of WPP plc, including nine years as its Chairman and CEO. Throughout this time he advised many Blue Chip and international clients across all geographies, sectors and services.

Helen Apostolidis joined Huntsworth in 2019 as the Global Chief Talent Officer responsible for talent development, organizational culture and HR operations.  Prior to joining Huntsworth, she held positions as  CTO of WPP’s Red Fuse Communications and before that Vice President of Global Human Resources for Publicis Healthcare Communications. Helen has more than 20-years of experience across the communications, entertainment and financial industries where she has demonstrated her ability to build talent and culture strategies that drive employee engagement, leading transformational change, and designing organizational structures and HR teams.

Reid founded Evoke in 2006 in pursuit of a simple yet powerful idea—to make Health More Human. This idea caught fire with like-minded clients who were hungry for rich, insight-driven strategies that drive real change for brands and people. Twice named one of the most inspiring people in the life sciences by PharmaVOICE, as well as in the Health Influencer 50 by PR Week and MM&M, Reid is a hands-on leader with a unique strategic vision to navigate and unearth opportunities in an increasingly complex health and wellness landscape. Under his leadership, Evoke has grown into one of the largest and most respected global marketing, media, and communications agencies in the healthcare space. With a ‘people-first, future-forward’ mindset, Reid has established Evoke as a magnet for the industry’s best talent and a destination for clients seeking new and innovative solutions for their biggest brand, business, and communication challenges. His unique behavior-based perspective brings a powerful point of view to the table, one that has helped build some of the most high-profile, breakthrough healthcare brands in the world, as well as develop durable businesses and shape markets for sustainable growth.  

Elaine Ferguson has led the Medical Division of Huntsworth since April 2015, doubling the size of organization through organic growth and evolving services through acquisition to create a fully integrated medical, health economics and market access platform. Prior to joining Huntsworth, Elaine led the Medical Communications division of inVentiv (now Syneos Health) including award-winning medical education agency – Litmus MME – that she founded in 2004. Trained as a neuropsychologist and having enjoyed a career across research and clinical practice before joining industry, Elaine combines her background in science and behavior to drive evidence-based strategies applied to real-world challenges in health.

Ben was appointed as Huntsworth’s CFO in October 2019, having spent over three years as Head of Finance for the Group. Prior to joining Huntsworth, he was Group Financial Controller of ITE Group Plc, a FTSE listed international organiser of exhibitions and conferences, and before that he was a senior credit analyst at Royal Bank of Scotland. Ben is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, qualifying with Deloitte in 2009.

Neil was appointed as Huntsworth’s COO in October 2019, having previously held the position of CFO at Huntsworth since February 2016. He has held senior financial positions for over 20 years, the majority of which have been with public companies. Most recently he was CFO of ITE Group plc, a FTSE listed international organiser of exhibitions and conferences. Prior to that he was Group Finance Director of Tarsus Group plc, another international trade exhibition organiser. Neil is also a Non-Executive Director of Tremor International, an AIM listed Ad-Tech company. Neil is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, qualifying with PWC in 1990.

Russ became CEO of TCEG in April 2016 and has over twenty-five years’ experience in marketing communications. Having started his career at Coca-Cola he held senior strategy and leadership roles in blue chip agencies including McCann, Lowe, and JWT. He was CEO of Havas Worldwide for six years before moving into his current role. Russ is a member of The Marketing Group of Great Britain; mentor for The Marketing Academy; Fellow of the RSA; Tech London advocate and EMBA advisor for Oxford Said Business School. He is also Chair of Trustees for Creative Mentor Network.

Annabelle Sandeman was appointed Global Head of Commercial Strategy at Huntsworth in 2018. Annabelle has spent nearly 25 years in healthcare communications having experience in medical sales, HCP advertising, PR and influence and Medical Communications. At Huntsworth she has worked across a number of roles, disciplines and therapeutic categories globally.  In her current role she supports the Huntsworth platform in developing strategy and enhancing global procurement relationships & wider partnerships. Annabelle is also currently Co-Chair of Communique 2020 and sits on the Governance Committee of the not-for-profit Healthcare Communications Association.

Simon Walker is Chairman of Huntsworth Communications. Simon Walker CBE was Director-General of the Institute of Directors from 2011-2017. He had previously been chief executive of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, Director of Corporate Communications at Reuters, and Director of Corporate Affairs at British Airways. He was Communications Secretary to HM The Queen at Buckingham Palace from 2000 to 2002 and a member of the Prime Minister’s Policy Unit at No 10 Downing Street from 1995-1997.

Neil was appointed as Huntsworth’s COO in October 2019, having previously held the position of CFO at Huntsworth since February 2016. He has held senior financial positions for over 20 years, the majority of which have been with public companies. Most recently he was CFO of ITE Group plc, a FTSE listed international organiser of exhibitions and conferences. Prior to that he was Group Finance Director of Tarsus Group plc, another international trade exhibition organiser. Neil is also a Non-Executive Director of Tremor International, an AIM listed Ad-Tech company. Neil is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, qualifying with PWC in 1990.

Patsy is Senior Group Advisor at Huntsworth plc.  Prior to joining Huntsworth plc in 2017, she was a senior partner, responsible for Group Business Development and client services, at Bell Pottinger having joined the practice in 1994. She provides Senior Board counsel to CEOs in the UK FTSE 250.  Patsy is well connected in Whitehall, Westminster and London’s financial and business communities through her work as the Founding Director of The Housing Investment Group, which was set up as a single-issue body to stimulate long term investment into the private rented sector.  She is a development board member of the Design Museum and is a Non-Executive Director of The Westminster Group plc, a specialist security and services company.

Paul Taaffe was appointed as CEO of Huntsworth on 7 April 2015. Paul has wide experience in communications and marketing, most recently as the Director of Communications at Groupon, the international e-commerce company. Prior to that, he enjoyed a 20 year career with Hill & Knowlton Inc, the global communications consultancy and subsidiary of WPP plc, including nine years as its Chairman and CEO. Throughout this time he advised many Blue Chip and international clients across all geographies, sectors and services.

Having worked extensively both in the UK and in Asia, Sarah’s experience spans advising top corporate entities, leading multinational corporations and supporting global consumer brands.​ Sarah has also worked for leading agencies Edelman, Fleishman Hillard and Freuds.  Sarah joined Grayling in 2014 to lead the strategic direction, coordination, corporate and crisis work for PayPal globally and was later promoted to CEO of UK and Ireland.

Richard Jukes has 30 years’ experience in public affairs, working both for specialist political agencies and as an adviser to former Cabinet Ministers and the Leader of the Opposition. Richard joined Grayling Communications in September 2010 where he is currently Chairman of Grayling Europe, UK & Ireland and in addition provides strategic leadership counsel to a number of national and internationals clients.

Mike Morgan is CEO of Red Consultancy - a leading strategic communications consultancy. His agency career began 30 years ago in London and his experience spans consumer/fmcg, corporate communications, sponsorship, technology and crisis and issues. Joining Red in 1996 he was appointed CEO in 2004. Under his leadership Red Consultancy has developed from a consumer focussed business  to a multi-specialist firm representing many of the world’s leading brands including: Emirates, Accenture, Sony, Adobe, McDonald’s and Huawei. He is a long-time senior adviser to McDonald’s and is a trustee of Ronald McDonald House Charities.

 Formerly a national newspaper and broadcast business journalist, Chris is a financial and corporate communications specialist with extensive experience of transactions, crisis communications, litigation support, restructuring, and reputation management. He has advised at the highest level on communications for UK and international government privatisations and on numerous major UK and international ECM and M&A transactions. His sector experience is wide-ranging and he has worked extensively across UK, European, US and Emerging Markets clients.

Simon in the Joint Managing Director of Citigate Dewe Rogerson in London and also leads the firm’s well regarded Retail and Consumer Industries practice.  He has advised on over 30 IPOs and has wide experience of advising on all aspects of financial and corporate communications for a range of public and private companies.  He also has extensive crisis, shareholder activism, litigation and special situation experience.  

Charlotte Bilney is the Co-CEO, Asia Pacific of Citigate Dewe Rogerson, jointly overseeing the six offices in the region: Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo.  She joined the company in May 1996 and has been based in Hong Kong since then.  She advises multinational financial institutions and Asia-based clients on transactions communications, corporate communications and crisis management and provides media and speaker training to senior executives.

Jasmine Yap is the Co-CEO, Asia Pacific of Citigate Dewe Rogerson, jointly overseeing the six offices in the region: Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo.  Prior to joining the company in 2005, she worked as a journalist at Bloomberg News and before that at BridgeNews. In her current role, she advises multinational financial institutions and Asia-based clients on transactions communications, investor relations and corporate communications and provides media and speaker training to senior executives. She is based in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Uneke Dekkers became Managing Director of CFF Communications in 2012, the leading corporate and financial communications agency in the Dutch market. In 2019, CFF merged with Grayling in the Dutch market and has a team of approximately 40 people. With a background in finance, Uneke is a seasoned communicator with 20 years of experience in corporate affairs, investor and public relations. She has been a team lead for a large number of special projects, including M&A, turnarounds, crises and IPOs and has built long lasting relationships in the Dutch market, acting as a board room advisor to many corporates. Prior to joining CFF Communications in 1999, where she became part of the management team in 2005, Uneke enjoyed 3 years at ING Barings in Investment Banking.