Roudie Shafie, former Head of Government Affairs at the ABPI and ex-corporate public affairs lead for Pfizer UK, has been appointed Director at healthcare communications agency OVID.
Roudie was a former policy advisor to Boris Johnson when he was Mayor of London on health, life sciences and immigration and integration policy. She was part of the early MedCity team, the UK’s first life science cluster agency, delivering strategic research infrastructure funding for London. She began her career as a campaigner at Oxfam and more recently has advised numerous life sciences, pharmaceutical and technology clients.
OVID Health was founded in 2018 by ex-Lib Dem health adviser and experienced agency leader Jenny Ousbey. It is one of the only independent specialist healthcare agencies delivering public affairs, campaigns and communications programmes in the UK.
In less than 18 months the agency has achieved six-figure growth and won a clutch of industry awards for its campaigns and team members.
Jenny Ousbey, Managing Director and Founder, OVID Health: “Everyone in the pharma sector knows Roudie to be a top-rate adviser and strategic thinker in life sciences and in healthcare. I am delighted she is joining OVID at such an exciting time as we continue to reinvent healthcare communications and policy engagement to stand out from the rest of the market. In the last few months we’ve grown the team, won awards and great clients. With Roudie onboard I’m looking forward to developing OVID’s offer to the pharma industry to deliver truly patient-centric campaigns, PR and government relations.”
Roudie Shafie, Director, OVID Health said: “OVID has a truly fresh and new approach in the industry and I’m delighted to join forces with Jenny and be a formidable force in healthcare comms and public affairs. I’ve been impressed by the unique ethos, culture and approach OVID has to deliver for clients. I look forward to playing a big role in establishing OVID as the go-to agency for inventive campaigns in health.”
The agency’s client list includes cancer charities ACT for Cancer and The Eve Appeal, membership body The NHS Confederation and The Huntercombe Group.