Speaking at the Healthcare Communications Association (HCA) annual conference yesterday, the boss of the trade body for the research-based pharma industry told delegates that the industry had reached the ‘prove it era’ and described its reputational issues as a ‘myth.’
‘Industry reputation is not aligned with reality,’ he said.
In a rallying speech, he emphasised the importance of the pharma industry forming ‘partnerships’ with stakeholders in order to promote trust and transparency in the industry.
Whitehead took his post as chief executive at the ABPI in June this year, following his most recent role as group comms director at Prudential.
The ‘Staying One Step Ahead’ conference held at Central Hall, Westminster aimed to address some of the major environmental changes that are happening in the industry and the implications for healthcare communications.
Liberation Communications MD Cherry Wood, who was elected as chair of the HCA in January this year, opened the event, which also featured talks from editor-in-chief of Cochrane Review, David Tovey, as well as The Daily Telegraph’s digital media editor, Emma Barnett.
It was the second annual HCA conference and tied in with the association’s 10th anniversary.
