Triggs is leaving the agency in three months to join Abu Dhabi investment firm Mubadala Development Company as head of communications.

Edelman Health UK MD Mike Kan will take on the European health MD role alongside his existing responsibilities.

He will report to European CEO David Brain and global president of health Nancy Turett as part of his European activity, and CEO Robert Phillips for the UK work.

Kan will work closely with health global MD Carolyn Paul on European business development and client management.

Director Steven Spurr is also being promoted to the role of MD of its pharma team in the UK health practice. He joined Edelman ten years ago as a graduate trainee and will report to Kan.

There are 50 people working in the Edelman health team across the pharma, bioscience and wellness and lifestyle teams. Current clients include AstraZeneca, Bayer-Schering, Novartis and Johnson & Johnson.

Edelman's healthcare practice ranked second in PRWeek's 2008 healthcare league table, with £6,008,695 in fee income (PRWeek, 20 June). This was up from £4,963,744 the previous year. But the agency was pipped to the top spot by Chandler Chicco Agency's £7,278,347 of fees.

Last month Edelman further bolstered its healthcare team with the appointment of former Pfizer PRO Hannah Martinez as associate director (PRWeek, 20 June).