Burson Canada has appointed Joanna Wilson as EVP and national lead of health and wellness.

The PR and communications company runs offices out of Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Québec City and serves clients such as Google Canada, Royal LePage, Interac and Adidas.

Previously, Wilson led one of the Edelman’s top global accounts and oversaw integrated communications across markets and functions as the firm’s EVP and global client lead, based out of Toronto. She also held the title of EVP and national practice lead for health at Edelman.

Wilson brings to Burson experience working with clients such as GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer Canada and Merck, as well as NGOs such as the diabetes research group JDRF and the Lung Association.

She will be based out of Burson’s Toronto offices with a leadership record that further strengthens Burson’s capabilities in integrated health care communications, public affairs and patient advocacy, a news release says.

With 30 years of experience in health care communications and advocacy, Wilson has experience partnering with many of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, public-health organizations and patient-advocacy groups.

Before joining Edelman, Wilson served as SVP and practice lead of health care for National Public Relations.

Burson Canada’s official launch came in April after the Burson Group formed last summer following WPP’s merger of BCW and Hill & Knowlton.