London-based healthcare communications and commercialisation agency Lucid Group has appointed Eric Muller as chief executive, succeeding Rick Sannem, who transitions to strategic advisor to the board.

Muller is an experienced executive who has operated both commercially and in senior leadership positions across global healthcare commercialisation for more than 25 years. Most recently, he was group president and chief operating officer of Publicis Health and previously held roles including president of Digitas Health. He began his career at Grey Advertising in New York.

Lucid Group chair Dr Rod MacKenzie said: “Lucid works across the full arc of product commercialisation, from the earliest stages of clinical development to market launch and on through to loss of exclusivity. Eric understands how hard it can be for great science to break through but also how to commercialise healthcare at scale. Our board is grateful for Rick’s vision and entrepreneurial stewardship that built Lucid’s culture of delivering client success and pleased that he will continue to support us as we enter our next chapter.”

Muller commented: “Healthcare is entering a new era, driven by extraordinary advances in science, data and technology. Clients increasingly need a partner that turns complexity into clarity and impact by bringing together scientific expertise, creativity and strategy, along with the power of data and AI. As data multiplies and development accelerates, knowing which evidence matters and what creative output will persuade is the part that becomes critical. That is the future of healthcare marketing, and it is where Lucid is positioned to lead. I am a builder at heart, and I came to Lucid to build a business that helps clinicians, patients and caregivers make better decisions about the things that matter most.”

Sannem said: “Years ago, we made a deliberate decision to build an independent business that brings specialised commercialisation services together under one roof to best serve healthcare and pharma clients and that’s exactly what Lucid has become. I’m proud of the culture and standard of excellence we’ve built, and Eric’s track record as a hands-on, transformative leader makes him the right person to lead Lucid into its next chapter of growth.”