David BrooksDavid Brooks

David Brooks, who served as senior vice president of digital and social strategy at Ogilvy Public Relations, has been named SVP of digital and social health in Ruder Finn’s U.S. healthcare practice.

Brooks joined Ogilvy’s 360 Digital Influence practice in 2011. Prior to that, he was director of digital strategy at Burson-Marsteller, where he was stationed for more than four years. He was previously vice president at marketing agency the Guild Group and a director of educational sales and marketing at Internet company Sanctuary Woods.

Brooks will be responsible for developing healthcare-related digital, social and content strategies and will work to expand RF's capabilities in the biotechnology and life sciences sectors. He’ll be based out of the agency's New York headquarters.

Brooks’ appointment comes as the independent PR giant continues to expand its U.S. healthcare practice. Another former Ogilvy executive, Sally Barton, joined Ruder Finn in June to lead the agency’s U.S. healthcare practice as well as strengthening the agency’s core competencies in emerging healthcare areas. Previously, the practice had been led by a team of senior leaders. Brooks will now report to Barton.

The same month, RF announced that worldwide healthcare practice chair Susan Goldstein had been given the additional title of growth initiatives president, a new agency-wide role that focuses on adding new value for existing and prospective healthcare clients.

Ruder Finn in 2015 accounted for nearly $26 million in healthcare-related fees, according to O’Dwyer’s ranking of PR firms.