Hillier Consulting is pleased to announce that with effect today (1 March 2023), Andrew Hillier is appointed Board Director at the Veterinary Management Group (VMG).
Veterinary Management Group
The Veterinary Management Group (VMG) is the professional association for all those in leadership and management roles in the veterinary medicine and healthcare sector. The Group’s mission is to inspire and empower veterinary leaders and potential leaders, and to provide the support, guidance and learning needed for development of the profession. The VMG is an affiliate group of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and liaises closely with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). Andrew will have special responsibility, and serve as lead, for VMG corporate communications, engagement, media management and public affairs.
Veterinary sector communications and management expertise
Andrew’s experience as a veterinary practice managing director and as business development, marketing and crisis management consultant to professional services firms (including veterinary practices), businesses and not-for-profits will prove invaluable. His management of Ballinger Equine has seen the multi-award-winning practice deliver continuous year-on-year growth since its launch. Beating stiff competition from Europe’s biggest creative agencies and pharmaceutical in-house teams, Andrew is a former winner of the veterinary industry’s prestigious VMA Practice Marketing Award and the VMA Marketing Campaign Award.
Andrew has advised central, regional and local government and delivered best practice communications and engagement strategies for Foot and Mouth disease, BSE, outbreaks of H1N1 (swine flu), H5N1 (avian influenza), EHV (Equine Herpes Virus), Equine Influenza and Bluetongue.
A Board Member of the European Association of Communication Directors, Andrew is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Journalists and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations where he was Greater London Chairman for two consecutive terms and a CIPR National Council Member for four years.
Corporate communications audit
Andrew will immediately set about a wide-ranging audit of the VMG communications, PR, public affairs and media relations and is expected to deliver his review and recommendations to the VMG Officers and full board before the end of Summer 2023.