Sandpiper Health names new deputy leads

Sandpiper Health, the healthcare specialist wing of public affairs and strategic communications consultancy the Sandpiper Group, has promoted Eddie Morton and Vincent Pung to its new deputy leads. Both will report to Sandpiper Health’s managing director, Robert Magyar.

In these newly created positions, Morton and Pung will be tasked with helping to shape the future expansion of Sandpiper Health in the region as the consultancy grows. 

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Morton first joined Sandpiper as its APAC account director for healthcare in 2021 before he got promoted to associate director in 2022, a role he held till his new senior appointment, according to his LinkedIn.

Based in Australia, Morton has helped Sandpiper’s diverse roster of global and Australia-New Zealand health clients develop region-wide campaigns, guard reputations, and navigate times of crisis and change, said a statement from the company.

Prior to joining Sandpiper, Morton led communications and advocacy for Australia’s member-owned health fund industry.

"Healthcare is an ever-broadening church, where change is outstripped only by public interest and oversight,” said Morton.

“As communicators, evolving practice alongside innovation and change has therefore never been more crucial. Sandpiper is at the forefront of progressive healthcare communications in the Asia Pacific,” he added.

Similarly, Pung has played a critical role in the growth of Sandpiper’s health practice across the Asia Pacific region over the past five years.

Pung’s client experience covers pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and healthcare organisations, providing strategic counsel on healthcare-related policies, macro-level trends, geopolitics, international affairs, as well as communications strategies.

He was also a data analyst and social media coordinator at Gastrolab Diagnostics, a part-time role which he held from 2015 to 2020, according to his LinkedIn page. 

“As the landscape of healthcare undergoes continual transformation to meet the diverse requirements of patients and communities, we too will keep up with the pace of change to ensure that we can always offer the best to our clients,” added Pung.

On the new appointments, Emma Smith, CEO at Sandpiper said, “Morton and Pung's promotions are in recognition of their dedication to our clients and people, achievements, and leadership ability.”

“Technology is revolutionising the health sector and transforming patient journeys and outcomes at an unprecedented pace, and we are firmly focused on being a partner that is purpose-fit for helping our clients navigate the future of health,” she explained.

As Sandpiper bolsters its healthcare consultancy, it recently launched a research firm specialising in supporting communications and public affairs practitioners called Sandpiper Research & Insights last year.

According to a statement by the company, the launch builds on the existing research work by Sandpiper to support related programmes for clients, which has experienced huge growth in the past year.

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