DUBLIN — Healthcare specialist Kyne has appointed Joanne Wunder as managing director and head of Europe to lead its new London office as the firm expands

Wunder, who has been consulting for the firm for the past 18 months, was European managing director, PR at InVentiv Health (now Syneos Health) and was also a business unit head at Ogilvy Healthworld. She will lead Kyne in London, as well as its Dublin headquarters, reporting to founder and CEO David Kyne.

The London and Dublin offices will work together to service global work for European-based biopharmaceutical and public health clients in areas such as diabetes, haemophilia and migraine, as well as the firm’s public healthcare work in Africa.

The agency's global digital offering will continue to be led from Dublin. It also has offices in New York and Los Angeles, with a total of 50 staff across the world.

Kyne told the Holmes Report: “We’re really excited – it’s been a while in the works. It’s partly driven by our growth and partly by working with Joanne, who has a great pedigree and is a great leader. Dublin is working well as our European and global hub, but we also recognise that there is a lot of healthcare talent in London. We decided to take the plunge because there is an appetite from clients and we’re feeling bullish about putting a stake in the ground.”

The agency is recruiting in London and Dublin, and hope to add between six and eight people in London in the coming year. Kyne said: “What sets us apart is our focus on public health work in Africa as well as European pharma business. Talent is hard to get but I think there is a real appetite for something a bit different to what’s on offer. We really do work seamlessly across our teams, in a very flat organisation, and there are lots of opportunities.”

Wunder, who has experience across therapeutic areas including diabetes, mental health, neuroscience, rare disease, respiratory, rheumatology and vaccines, said: “We have a strong team of passionate, creative communications professionals, and a nimble, flexible approach to health challenges that is truly differentiating. We see exciting opportunities for growth in both locations in Europe and we are committed to expanding the team and taking on new challenges.”