Alex Kelly has joined Forest Laboratories as senior VP/chief communications officer.

Spearheading branding, external PR, media relations, product publicity and investor relations, Kelly reports to Brent Saunders, president & CEO of the New York-based drug company noted for its cardiovascular and central nervous system franchises.

Most recently, Kelly was VP-IR at Bausch + Lomb and senior VP-IR at Merck & Co.

He also held PR posts at Schering-Plough, Novartis and Phamacia, where he worked in pharmaceutical sales.