Chris Foster Heads Burson-Marsteller's Healthcare Practice

Chris Foster, left, has been appointed to head Burson-Marsteller's U.S. Healthcare Practice, a global public relations firm in the District. Foster, 37, who had been leading the practice on an interim basis since November 2007, brings a far-ranging breadth of experience to his new role, combining broad knowledge of managed care, healthcare provider groups, alliance development, and social marketing. He has worked with a variety of pharmaceutical and corporate clients, including Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Amgen, and Premier. A native of Mt. Vernon, New York, Foster earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University of Virginia, and a master's degree in applied behavior counseling from Johns Hopkins University.

With more than 15 years of public relations and pharmaceutical marketing experience, Foster has pioneered some of the healthcare industry’s most successful campaigns. As U.S. Chair, he will play a significant role in defining new opportunities and growing the market for the Practice. Based in Washington D.C., Foster will report to Patrick Ford, Burson's U.S. President & CEO. Foster currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Heart Association (Greater Washington Region) and the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at the University of Virginia. Foster has been a guest lecturer at Columbia University (School of Continuing Studies) and Western Kentucky University.

Burson-Marsteller, established in 1953, is a leading global public relations and public affairs firm. It provides clients with strategic thinking and program execution across a full range of public relations, public affairs, advertising, and web-related services. The firm’s worldwide network consists of 57 wholly-owned offices and 46 affiliate offices, together operating in 59 countries across six continents. Burson-Marsteller is a part of Young & Rubicam Brands, a subsidiary of WPP (NASDQ: WPPGY), one of the world’s leading communications services networks. (Burson Press Release)