The charity has promoted Layla Theiner to the senior lobbying role. She has worked at the charity since 2010, when she joined as EU public affairs manager.
Theiner, who has ten years’ experience in public affairs and campaigning, is expected to focus on plain packaging and early diagnosis issues.
Formerly, Theiner has handled work to convince the Government to rethink medicine pricing policies.
CRUK chief clinician Peter Johnson spoke out on the matter when the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence rejected vemurafenib, sold by Roche under the brand name Zelboraf, in June because it offered only months of extra life for people with metastatic melanoma and cost £1,750 a week.
Reporting to head of policy Sara Osborne, Theiner will take responsibility for CRUK’s work to lead public affairs and campaigning activities across Westminster, the devolved nations and the EU.
During her time as EU public affairs manager, Theiner oversaw the charity’s EU public affairs strategy, focusing on elements such as clinical trials regulation, support for cancer research and packaging of tobacco products.
Theiner replaces Chris West, now head of media and public affairs at Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.
