Senior strategist brings more than 25 years of diverse pharmaceutical, consumer health and diagnostics industry experience

New York— Hill+Knowlton Strategies today announced accomplished corporate and brand communications executive Nancy Fitzsimmons joined the firm this week as a senior vice president in the corporate and crisis practice, based in New York. She joins the firm from tWist Marketing, where she had been a managing director and head of corporate health, following leadership roles in house at Warner Lambert, AstraZeneca, Novartis Consumer Health and Bayer Diagnostics.

“Nancy is a healthcare communications pioneer,” said Beth Balsam, U.S. president and CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies. “She has spent more than 25 years in leadership positions driving communications for Fortune 500 companies in the technology, human and animal healthcare industries, and providing counsel for non-profit healthcare advocacy groups, giving her an incredible combination of expertise in corporate, crisis and health. She is a seasoned professional who understands how to successfully navigate constant and disruptive change on behalf of her clients, and we’re excited to have her on our team.”

A recognized expert in corporate branding, reputation, and issue and crisis management, Fitzsimmons has counseled C-suite executives and industry leaders through high-profile government investigations, product recalls, regulatory issues and corporate and legal challenges. Prior to joining W2O Companies, Fitzsimmons led corporate initiatives for the global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, directing the U.S. launch of its global branding and driving reputation through its commitment to Corporate Responsibility and Integrity. Before joining AstraZeneca, she built the corporate communications function for global healthcare giants Novartis Consumer Health OTC and Bayer Diagnostics, and the marketing communications function for Warner Lambert, leading communications for the world’s best-selling drug, Lipitor. She has also counseled non-profits such as the National Kidney Foundation in the areas of communications, marketing and business development.

“The increasing focus on access and medical value has thrust healthcare companies into an increasingly hostile and defensive environment, impacting their go-to-market strategies and relationships with payers, professionals and patients,” Fitzsimmons said. “As the foremost leader in issues management and crisis communications and containment, Hill+Knowlton is playing a more pivotal role leading healthcare executives through this turbulence. I look forward to joining the H+K team as we continue to build on its leadership in corporate and crisis.”