The Healthcare Communications Association (HCA) is delighted to announce the election of the first industry Chair for the body that was established almost three years ago to champion best practice, innovation and excellence in healthcare communications. Stuart Rose, former UK Commercial Director of Elan, takes up his two year post from Angie Wiles, Joint Managing Director of Virgo Health PR at this week's Annual General Meeting.

Wiles said: “It was felt that an industry Chair at this stage in our development could be both timely and valuable, given one of our core goals of broadening our industry appeal. Stuart is now the only industry member to have been involved since our inception and I know that this combined with his passionate commitment to the HCA, his strategic vision, leadership skills and his tactical attention to detail, will really help take the HCA to the next level.”

The HCA launched in July 2000 under the Chair of Catherine Warne, MD, Red Door Communications. Wiles took on the role in January 2001 and during her time as Chair has established sub-committees on Education & Training, Evaluation, Benchmarking and Marketing/Membership taking membership to over 20 agencies and 10 pharmaceutical companies. During her tenure, over 200 industry and agency staff have participated in over six different types of training courses, the first Healthcare Evaluation Toolkit has been launched and the first ever industry-wide healthcare PR benchmarking exercise has been undertaken.

With 18 years working in marketing roles within some of the industries' leading companies, including GSK, Stuart's marketing experience and insight combined with his commitment to PR will bring a new insight and focus to the HCA. He has been actively involved in developing the Evaluation Sub-Committee and the Toolkit, and has chaired several HCA Training Days.

Rose says: “Marketing is becoming a critical competitive differentiator in pharmaceuticals and as our customer base increases in diversity and complexity the need to reach and influence through PR and medical education is growing. The mission of the HCA is to provide an independent forum to drive the highest standards and promote best practice in healthcare communications and make that influence really count. I am delighted to be taking on this role and look forward to seeing the HCA grow further in both membership and what we deliver to members. It is those deliverables that could give members competitive edge.”

Given the increased scope of the HCA, Stuart will be supported by Julia Cook, an independent PR practitioner who has been very involved in a number of HCA activities over the last year. Julia will work with Stuart in a supportive and complementary way, such that some of the increasing administrative workload is shared which will allow the HCA's continued progression and strategic development. Chonell Roy will continue to manage the HCA Secretariat.

At this week's AGM, the HCA will announce plans to open membership to freelancers and launch a formal constitution.