Alex Butler has partnered with healthcare agency Aurora PR to set up The Social Moon.
Butler was previously marketing comms manager for the EMEA region at Johnson & Johnson and was also digital strategy and social media manager at sister firm Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
Butler will be managing director of The Social Moon, billed as the UK's first digital-only marketing and comms agency for the healthcare and pharma industry. He will work with Aurora founders Neil Crump and Claire Eldridge and will be based out of Aurora's London offices.
Butler said The Social Moon was already advising a number of companies on digital and social media and would work collaboratively with Aurora's existing clients.
Commenting on the partnership, Aurora MD Neil Crump said: 'As an associated company, The Social Moon complements Aurora's strong track record in healthcare digital and social media.'
Butler has been a key figure in developing digital comms in the healthcare and pharmaceutical arena.
In September this year, Janssen dominated the PM Society's Digital Media Awards for a second year running, taking five awards. Butler was also a key speaker at PRWeek's Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Communications Congress this year.
Founded in 2005, Aurora was a new entry in the 2011 PRWeek healthcare league tables, entering at number 18. Its existing clients include Roche, Novartis and Lilly.
