Henri Pitron appointed as Communications Director: message from Stewart Cole

"Dear all,

I am pleased to announce the arrival of Henri Pitron as the Institut Pasteur's new Communications Director. Henri took up the post on December 1. He will be a member of the Senior Management Board (Codir) and the Executive Board (Comex).

Henri Pitron is a graduate of the Public Services section at the Institute of Political Studies of Aix-en-Provence and holds a joint degree in History and Philosophy from Paris Nanterre University.

After beginning his career in communications agencies, Henri Pitron served as advisor for communications and press relations to the French Minister for Health and Social Affairs for three years (2014-2017). This experience led him to develop outstanding strategic communications skills, especially in crisis situations. He supervised national public health campaigns and was responsible for coordinating communications between the ministry, its various agencies and government departments.

Henri Pitron was then involved in the development of Doctolib (2017-2022), a French unicorn and digital health pioneer, as Director of Communications and Public Affairs at group level (France, Germany and Italy). In this capacity, he helped establish the company as part of the institutional landscape and built the foundations for the familiar public brand that it has now become, especially since the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

In short, Henri Pitron has an in-depth knowledge of the health sector, wide-ranging expertise in communication professions and tools, and solid experience with the press and social media. He will now apply these skills to help boost the Institut Pasteur's visibility in France and worldwide, and also to maintain and renew links among staff on campus in a context still marked by several years of pandemic conditions.

I have the utmost confidence in his professional and human qualities and in his ability to create a positive dynamic with all the teams in the Department of Communications, in conjunction with the Senior Management Board.

I would like to renew my confidence in Florence Percie du Sert and thank her warmly for having acted as interim Director of Communications since October 1.

I trust that you will give Henri Pitron the warmest welcome and wish him, on behalf of all of us, every success in his new position.

Best regards,"
 
Professor Stewart Cole
President