Essity appoints Kate Prince as the new public affairs manager for UK and ROI.
- Prince brings extensive experience from Kellogg’s in PR, public affairs, and sustainability.
- She will oversee Essity’s engagement in public policy and societal impact initiatives.
- Essity aims to enhance stakeholder relationships and influence healthcare policy.
- The appointment aligns with Essity’s strategic objectives in the hygiene and healthcare sector.
Kate Prince’s appointment as Essity’s senior public affairs manager marks a significant step in the company’s strategic direction for the UK and Republic of Ireland. With 25 years in PR, public affairs, and sustainability, Prince is set to play a pivotal role in establishing Essity as an authoritative voice in public policy discussions. Her move from Kellogg’s, where she led social impact and sustainability initiatives across Europe, brings valuable experience and industry connections to Essity.
In her new role, Prince will advance Essity’s public affairs and societal impact agenda, continuing the company’s longstanding partnership with In Kind Direct, through which over 2.2 million essential hygiene and health products are donated annually. Her efforts will focus on fortifying relationships with key decision-makers and opinion leaders, thereby enhancing the company’s influence in shaping healthcare policy across the UK and ROI.
Lee Doherty, VP Consumer Goods UKI & MEA at Essity, emphasises the imperative need for Essity to engage with the evolving healthcare and regulatory landscape. With a new government and emerging healthcare challenges, information driven policy making becomes crucial. Doherty asserts Essity’s commitment to being at the forefront of policy discussions, leveraging its industry insights to benefit consumers and organisations reliant on its products.
Prince’s base at Essity’s office in Didsbury, Greater Manchester, strategically positions her near the Trafford Park paper mill, a key site for production of consumer goods like Plenty kitchen roll and Cushelle toilet roll for major retailers. Her proximity to such central operations underlines Essity’s intent to integrate sustainability and innovation into its core business functions.
Already a leader in healthcare policy advocacy, Essity has demonstrated its commitment through initiatives like the incontinence campaign, which revealed substantial cost implications for the NHS due to low-quality product procurement. This research influenced the House of Lords to propose policy changes, mandating procurement shifts to begin in the coming year. Prince’s role will be crucial in such efforts, ensuring Essity remains a key player in industry developments.
Kate Prince’s appointment reflects Essity’s ambition to be at the forefront of public policy influence in the hygiene and healthcare industry.
