CHICAGO, Jan. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Weber Shandwick, a leading global public relations firm, today announced that Cori Ashford has joined the agency as a senior vice president in the firm's global Healthcare practice. Joining from Chandler Chicco Agency, Ashford will be based in Chicago.

Ashford joins the firm with more than a dozen years of experience managing global pharmaceutical accounts in disease areas such as oncology, cardiology, metabolic and autoimmune diseases, among others. Her past experience includes strategic counsel, issues management, data communications, regulatory milestones, national and international brand launches and consumer campaigns.

Over the course of her career, she led the agency team responsible for global and U.S. communications activities for Bristol-Myers Squibb's rheumatoid arthritis medication Orencia, spanning the pre-launch, launch and lifecycle management phases for this treatment. In addition to her immunology experience, Ashford has also worked extensively in the oncology and cardiovascular therapeutic areas, providing strategic counsel to clients and helping shape proactive global and national programs and comprehensive issues management approaches. Most recently, she led the agency team responsible for launching Janssen's Zytiga, a treatment for advanced prostate cancer.

Ashford has worked on issues management for a number of brands, including a supply shortage of the ovarian cancer treatment Doxil and U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Congressional actions regarding Procrit, a treatment for anemia resulting from chronic kidney failure or chemotherapy.

"We are thrilled to welcome Cori to the team. She will be managing a variety of pharmaceutical and other healthcare accounts, adding to our bench strength in the Chicago office and to the Healthcare practice at Weber Shandwick, which continues to grow," said Laura Schoen, president of Weber Shandwick's Global Healthcare practice.

Ashford graduated cum laude from Ohio University with a Bachelor's of Science in journalism.

About Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a leading global public relations firm with offices in 81 countries around the world. The firm has won numerous awards for innovative approaches and creative campaigns including being named both The Holmes Report's 2012 Global Agency of the Year and the "Most Creative PR Firm in the World," based on the agency's first-place finish in its "Creative Index," as well as PR News' 2012 Digital PR Firm of the Year. Major practice areas include consumer marketing, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, corporate and crisis management. The firm has deep, award-winning expertise in social media and digital marketing that helps drive engagement. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com.


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    Company: Weber Shandwick            Weber Shandwick
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SOURCE Weber Shandwick