Hopkins is a former director and healthcare chief at Burson-Marsteller in London. She has also held senior jobs at Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD) and the former Glaxo Wellcome.
She is working for Athena following the resignation of director Neil Crump, who has quit to co-found his own agency (PRWeek, 30 September).
Athena MD Cherry Wood said: 'I've known Tessa for many years. She was one of the pioneers to whom we all aspired when we started out in healthcare PR.'
Hopkins has spent the past decade as a director of media training, crisis comms and issues management outfit Lions Den Communications. She will continue in this role, although her
commitments will be scaled back during what will be a six-month secondment to Athena.
Wood is already looking for a full-time replacement for Crump.
Hopkins' PR career began 25 years ago when she joined agency Counsellor. She then spent around four years at B-M before moving to MSD in 1988.
Hopkins met Wood when they worked on the launch of the former Zeneca's migraine drug Zomig eight years ago: Hopkins was freelancing at Hill & Knowlton and Wood was at Zeneca.
Athena clients include Novartis UK and Pfizer UK.
She is working for Athena following the resignation of director Neil Crump, who has quit to co-found his own agency (PRWeek, 30 September).
Athena MD Cherry Wood said: 'I've known Tessa for many years. She was one of the pioneers to whom we all aspired when we started out in healthcare PR.'
Hopkins has spent the past decade as a director of media training, crisis comms and issues management outfit Lions Den Communications. She will continue in this role, although her
commitments will be scaled back during what will be a six-month secondment to Athena.
Wood is already looking for a full-time replacement for Crump.
Hopkins' PR career began 25 years ago when she joined agency Counsellor. She then spent around four years at B-M before moving to MSD in 1988.
Hopkins met Wood when they worked on the launch of the former Zeneca's migraine drug Zomig eight years ago: Hopkins was freelancing at Hill & Knowlton and Wood was at Zeneca.
Athena clients include Novartis UK and Pfizer UK.
