Red has signalled serious ambitions in the healthcare PR arena by announcing a bigger and better healthcare practice and the hire of two senior healthcare specialists. Called simply Red Health, the practice will consolidate current, award-winning client work (for the likes of Schering, Lilly and Wyeth) but will offer extended experience and insight into issues and health professional communications. The two hires are Pat Pearson and Paul Gittins who join Red from Ruder Finn in early July. Pat Pearson will lead the new practice and leaves Ruder Finn after nine years having directed the UK healthcare business and most recently having coordinated the consultancy’s drive into emerging media as Director Innovation (Europe). Before joining Ruder Finn Pat was media adviser to the then Minister of State for Health, Alan Milburn. Paul Gittins also joins Red Health as Divisional Director, leaving Ruder Finn after more than two years where he led the global mood disorders business for Lundbeck and the UK oncology portfolio for Novartis. Paul has a background in pharmacology and before joining Ruder Finn worked at Manning Selvage & Lee and Red Door Communications on both UK and global business.