APCO promotes Stig Albinus to global heathcare chair

Following reorganization two years ago when Schooling was named to his current post, he was also tapped as chair of all practice areas. However, as new talent was acquired and developed, it was always the intent that each of APCO's practice areas would ultimately receive a global chair, founder and CEO Margery Kraus told PRWeek.

For instance, Stephanie Lvovich is now the global chair of APCO's food and consumer products practice. Similar announcements can be expected in the future for other practice areas, Kraus added.

In the instance of Albinus, Kraus felt he would be a good fit to run the global healthcare practice because 'he had a lot of experience with a number of pharmaceutical companies and he has helped grow those into global accounts while also bringing in new business'.

Albinus joined the firm in April 2011. His last position was senior director of healthcare in the New York office. He will continue those duties, in addition to his new ones, until a replacement is identified. He will report both to Schooling and Nelson Fernandez, MD of the New York office.

'I've been in the US for 15 years,' said Albinus, 'but I have a European background, which I've been able to leverage to support teams globally to help them win new business.'

Albinus has also helped APCO shape up markets around the world ahead of medical-product launches. Making sure outreach targets not only the usual suspects, such as payers and sales forces, but also others that could impact a product's success, such as thought leaders who might be antagonistic toward a product's launch or NGOs.

'[Healthcare communications] is now about becoming a 360-degree market-shaping force,' he explained. 'That's one of the things I bring to the table.'

Before joining APCO, Albinus held numerous roles at Burson-Marsteller, including head of its European healthcare practice. While in the post, he was responsible for healthcare teams in 14 European markets and produced annual revenue of more than $25 million.

He also had a stint at Porter Novelli, where he worked as EVP and director of integrated client solutions.

This article was first published on prweek.com