Three new public and government affairs experts join well-known public affairs team

Québec City, March 19, 2012 – H+K Stratégies is pleased to announce the arrival of Jean-Yves Julien, Marcel R. Tremblay and Martin Briand as special health and pharmaceutical advisor, special advisor, and public and government affairs director, respectively, at its Québec City office.

“Jean-Yves, Marcel and Martin’s expertise complements our high-calibre public and government affairs team that is already respected and well known in our market,” says Simon Poitras, senior vice president for Québec and general manager of the Hill+Knowlton Stratégies Québec City office. “These additions bolster our position as the public and government affairs leader in Québec, offering unmatched service in the health sector.”

Impressive track records

Jean-Yves Julien, who will work as a special health and pharmaceutical advisor, comes to H+K Stratégies after a career of more than 40 years in the health industry. He worked as head of the pharmacy department and general manager of the Sanatorium Béginhospital; served as co-ordinated procurement manager at Partagec; and is a past president of Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec. Jean-Yves holds a master’s degree in pharmacy as well as a certificate in hospital pharmacy.

Marcel R. Tremblay brings more than 30 years of experience to his new position as special advisor. With a bachelor’s degree in commercial science and a master’s degree in accounting, he has served as parliamentary secretary to the deputy prime minister; co-chair of the Senate Reform Committee; and Canadian Government representative to the United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Marcel was also a Progressive Conservative MP from 1984 to 1988, and held a number of important positions in the House of Commons.

Marcel and Jean-Yves will work with Madeleine Caron, former assistant deputy minister of industry at Ministère du Développement économique de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation, who is also a special advisor in the Québec City office.

Martin Briand brings invaluable experience in the Québec health sector to his new position – most notably as special advisor in the office of the minister of health and social services and political advisor in the office of the leader of the official opposition. After earning a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, Martin worked as a research assistant at the Hôpital Laval research centre and as a kinesiologist at Université Laval. He holds a master’s degree in experimental medicine and is currently pursuing his doctorate.

About H+K Stratégies

Hill+Knowlton Stratégies, formerly HKDP Communications and Public Affairs, is a top-tier communications and public affairs consulting firm in Québec that provides clients with services at the local, national and international levels from its offices in Montréal and Québec City. It is part of the Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada (hkstrategies.ca) network, which – with nine offices across the country – is Canada’s industry leader in strategic communications for both PR and public affairs. The company specializes in corporate, crisis, consumer marketing, non-profit communications, technology, natural resources, health care, digital communications, public affairs, gaming, financial services and investor relations. Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada – the No. 1-rated communications firm in the country – is a recipient of the Order of Excellence from Excellence Canada and is recognized as one of the 2011 Best Workplaces in Canada. Its parent company, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Inc., is a world leader in PR and public affairs, with 85 offices in 46 countries, as well as an extensive associate network; it is a member of WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY) (www.wpp.com), one of the world’s largest communications services groups.

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Contact:
Raphaëlle Cyr Lelièvre
Consultant
H+K Strategies,Quebec City
Telephone: 418-523-3352, ext. 231
Cell: 418-580-0040
Email: [email protected]