Botox maker Allergan bolsters European comms with new hires

Allergan has poached Julia Kendrick and Bahar Turkoglu from Chandler Chicco Agency (CCA), the firm’s longstanding adviser in the UK and Europe.

Kendrick and Turkoglu will join EMEA corporate affairs and PR director Janet Kettels in two newly created roles as the company focuses on its medical aesthetics, neurosciences and ophthalmology business units.

Kendrick will handle corporate affairs and PR for Allergan’s medical aesthetics business, which includes Botox and dermal filler products, across the EMEA region.

She joins from Chandler Chicco, where she worked on Allergan and other pharma accounts such as Novartis. The move follows a 12-month secondment to Allergan from CCA. Previously, Kendrick held roles at Ketchum and Synergy Medical.

Turkoglu will manage corporate affairs and PR for the firm’s neuroscience and ophthalmology business, including chronic migraine and overactive bladder conditions throughout the EMEA region.

Kendrick and Turkoglu, who report directly to Kettels, will be based in Allergan’s UK office.

Demand for Botox has remained high despite the recession and is likely to grow as it is increasingly used as a medical treatment rather than for cosmetic purposes. Botox recently gained approval for use in treating chronic migraine pain. It is also expected to gain approval for use in bladder control treatment within the EU.

This article was first published on prweek.com