Ruder Finn appoints Mai Tran as EVP of Asian health care practice

Tran has been at Ruder Finn since 2001, when she joined as client director before being promoted to the Paris office’s managing director in 2003, by which time she was overseeing a team of 15 health care consultants.

She has been in the communications industry for more than 20 years, including a stint of five years spent in China, where she was managing director of the Chinese branch of PR International.

Tran is additionally a trained pharmacist and claims communications expertise in the areas of oncology, virology, obesity, endocrinology and cardiovascular, working with clients including Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb on Plavix.

Recently, Tran helped to launch Novartis’ hypertension treatments; worked with Roche on its diabetes BMS/AZ medications; and helped launch of two AIDS drugs for Tibotec and Janssen-Cilag.

The hire reflects the growing importance of the health care industry in Asia, said Jean Michel Dumont, chairman of Ruder Finn Asia, adding: “Asia’s health sector has been on a continuous growth path for several years and it’s an exciting place to be and full of opportunities”.

Ruder Finn’s key health care clients worldwide include Novartis, Astellas Pharma, AstraZeneca, Mead Johnson, Roche, Wyeth, Sandoz and Schering Plough Pharmaceuticals.