LONDON — Specialist healthcare agency Havas Just has named Nicole Yost as its new CEO, replacing co-founder Jennie Talman, who has stepped down after 15 years with the firm.

Havas Just was formed in 2015 when Havas bought UK healthcare firm Just Health Communications, which was founded in 2006 by Talman and Emma Crozier. Talman will continue as an executive advisor to the agency and will remain involved with clients. Crozier left the agency in 2018.

Yost joins after a year at BCW, where as a managing director she was responsible for establishing a new division focusing on business transformation in the health sector. Previously, Yost led the health team at Porter Novelli before becoming co-managing director in London, and was also a director at Ogilvy Healthworld.

In her new role, Yost will be part of the Havas Health & You (HH&Y) EU leadership team, reporting to the division’s CEO John Hackney. She will also join the global Havas Health PR council.

Yost said: “Right now there is an opportunity to transform the relationship that pharma has with the public. My ambition is to play a critical role in helping our clients to shape the post-pandemic conversation around the provision and value of healthcare.”

Talman added: “Putting people first has always been central to our business model. From day one we believed that if we created an agency where people felt supported to do their best and bravest work, then the clients would follow. This commitment to people explains our steady growth and client retention over the years and will remain central to our culture under Nicole’s leadership.”