SYDNEY — Edelman has named Jenny Granger head of strategy for its health business in the Asia-Pacific region. A senior communications strategist and market researcher with more than 20 years of experience, Granger joins Edelman after leading her own strategy and research consultancy with a focus on go-to-market and growth strategies across health and wellness, pharmaceuticals, beverage industries and not-for-profits. Granger will focus on integrating creative and strategy with Edelman’s health teams across Asia. She will work closely with client leaders, creative teams and clients themselves to help address some of the most pressing challenges currently facing the sector, in order to provide cut through communications and marketing strategies.

SYDNEY — Ogilvy PR has expanded its strategic leadership team with three new senior hires. Gloria Lee has started as senior business director within the technology and corporate practice. Lee has supported a wide variety of businesses ranging from multinationals to start-ups during her communications career, honing her specialist skills within the technology and corporate sectors. Greg Vekiarellis is the firm’s new head of publicity, bringing 14 years of entertainment, events and brand publicity to the role. Vekiarellis will head up Ogilvy PR’s cross-floor team of specialist publicists which includes media relations experts in technology, corporate, consumer, travel and entertainment. In addition, Mike Lane returns to the agency after a year in the UK, where he joins the health PR practice as business director, pharmaceutical communications. Lane brings extensive experience across the pharmaceutical industry in Australia and the UK, as well as key international markets, with deep expertise in various disease states.

SYDNEY — Thrive PR has expanded with the appointment of two new leaders. Alex Robinson has been named head of director: social, content and digital to spearhead the growth of Thrive’s in-house production studio and lead new avenues for digital storytelling. Prior to joining Thrive, Robinson was managing editor for Netflix ANZ and digital marketing manager at Football Australia. Ryan van Haalen has been hired as head of sport, to lead and continue to grow the agency’s sports division, following working as bureau chief at Sky News and 16 years of experience working at 7News, Fox Sports and ABC News.

SYDNEY — Bastion Amplify has named Simone Esamie to the newly created position of head of PR, Sydney. In the leadership role, Esamie will oversee the growth, development and performance of the Sydney PR team, focused on earned and owned media channels using PR, social media and influencer marketing. Joining the agency from Write Away Communication + Events, part of The Recognition Group, Esamie was most recently general manager, responsible for providing executive-level support for B2B and B2C clients, working with the team on strategic account planning and service delivery.

SYDNEY — Bastion Reputation has appointed corporate affairs leader Tess Salmon as a principal consultant in its Sydney office to lead clients in major infrastructure and industries facing a range of transition challenges, across NSW, Queensland, and the ACT. Salmon most recently held the position of general manager of external affairs and communication at Western Sydney Airport. Prior to that, she held senior media and communications roles with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Office of the NSW Premier and with the NSW Police Force.