Sandpiper Health appoints new managing director

Specialist healthcare consultancy Sandpiper Health has appointed Robert Magyar (pictured) to the newly created role of managing director, where he will oversee a regional specialist team of healthcare communications and public affairs advisors based in Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, China, Australia, and New Zealand. In addition to leading Sandpiper Health, Magyar will remain as senior executive director in Sandpiper China's business, and continue to lead the company's regional public affairs offering. In his new role, he will work closely with Sarada Chellam, director of Sandpiper Health and general manager of Sandpiper Singapore, in leading its specialist team of 30 consultants across its six offices. 

Joining Sandpiper in 2021, Magyar has accumulated over 20 years of experience in healthcare communications and public affairs across Asia Pacific, as an existing member of the Sandpiper Health Team. Prior to joining Sandpiper, he assumed the position of senior executive director, China-based consultancy North Head, for over 11 years, where he was one of the founding partners of the venture, according to his LinkedIn. Additionally, he helmed Weber Shandwick Tokyo and China as its senior vice president across a span of over six years, where he was tasked with working with international clients on their corporate communications and government relations projects in China, Japan and the Asian region, his LinkedIn said. 

“Healthcare communications is more than my work, it is my passion. Helping our clients to navigate the complex healthcare and life sciences policy environment is what motivates our entire team at Sandpiper Health, and I am very proud to have the opportunity to lead such an experienced group of colleagues," Magyar said. He added that healthcare companies succeed or fail depending on how they communicate about their products and vision. 

Emma Smith, chief executive of Sandpiper, said: “We are incredibly proud of the great work and results for our clients being achieved by our Sandpiper Health team and under Robert’s leadership, we will look to significantly expand our regional presence and reach." She explained that as the only specialist healthcare consultancy combining both communications and public affairs expertise in the region, it believes that it can offer clients a significantly differentiated offering. 

"Practitioners with Robert’s depth of experience and knowledge of the healthcare landscape in Asia Pacific are rare and we feel incredibly privileged to have him leading our dynamic and talented team," she added. 

In April, Sandpiper beefed up its Energy, Environment and ESG practice team based in Singapore with four new appointments. Natalia Hausjah joined as a senior account manager following APAC sustainability leadership positions with firms such as The Barton Partnership, Neste, and Sintesa Group. Reena Mavjee also came on board as senior account manager. In addition, joining Hausjah and Mavjee were Jill Tan and Samuel Tan, who were appointed senior account executives. 

The team currently reports to practice leads COO, Kelly Johnston and director, Genevieve Chow, and work with other specialist team members based in Singapore, Australia, China, Hong Kong, and New Zealand, including director, ESG and Sustainability, Julia Walker.

Meanwhile, Sandpiper Health was formed in February after communications consultancy Sandpiper merged its existing APAC health practice and the health arm of North Head. The combined entity provides a full range of consultancy services including corporate communications, patient advocacy, public affairs and policy development, as well as internal communications and social and digital strategies. 

“Growing affluence, aging populations, and most acutely the COVID-19 pandemic continue to create complex environments that governments and healthcare companies must navigate in China and across the region. Sandpiper Health has the local expertise and experience to help our clients understand patients, caregivers, and policymakers’ priorities and to align their businesses for growth," said Magyar then. 

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