Judy Viitanen – Founder and Managing Director

Judy has carved out a successful 30 year PR career and reputation working with major UK and International communications and advertising agencies, trade associations, professional bodies, charities and voluntary groups, national and local Government, campaign groups, and a wide range of companies – large and small – across many market sectors.

She is responsible for managing the PRimage business as well as acting as account director for the firm’s growing client base.

Judy enjoys strong and positive working relationships with some of the best and brightest in PR and public affairs, the media and event management, and in advertising, research and marketing. She has generated thousands of impactful media impressions and placed news and feature stories with trade, national, regional and women’s media and leading broadcast and news agencies.

Her strengths are strategic and innovative thinking and interpersonal influence and relationship management.

Judy’s specialities are:

·    Public relations and media relations
·    Strategic and tactical campaign planning
·    Healthcare communications
·    Government relations and influencing
·    Local community engagement
·    Relationship and reputation management
·    Editorial, newsletter development and copywriting
·    Event Management

PRimage VIP Event Management support is provided by Eirian Coleman.

PRimage Creative Solutions are delivered by Victoria Vatistas

Don’t take our word for the difference that PRimage can make – simply read what our clients and business associates have to say about us!

Client Testimonials for Judy and PRimage

“I have known Judy for over 20 years, and regard her as a highly focused, committed and intelligent PR professional who is passionate about the industry in which we operate. When Judy set up her consultancy, PRimage, I immediately appointed her to handle our Day Lewis PR account, and was confident that we would benefit from her skills and wealth of experience in the healthcare and pharmacy sectors. She has shown enormous talent for providing strategic advice and tactical implementation on all our publicity and communication needs and is greatly valued by my senior management team.  Her work over the past 3 years has ensured much clarity and consistency in our corporate communications. Hugely personable, a sunny personality and a delight to work with, she goes above and beyond the call of duty to deliver an exceptional service.  I would therefore highly recommend Judy - she will prove to be a valuable asset to your company, as she has done to mine.”

Kirit Patel MBE, CEO, Day Lewis Plc

“PRimage and Judy Viitanen represent “best in class” in the sector of public relations and organizational coordination and consultation. My company, Lifeclinic International, has worked with Ms. Viitanen on initiatives to promote our presence internationally within the pharmaceutical industry and she has time and time again over delivered what was expected. She’s truly an asset to any organization that is lucky enough to work with her.”

Shane Knee: Vice-President, Lifeclinic International

“Judy has an excellent record of developing PR and was instrumental in the Save Our Pharmacy campaign which generated more letters to MPs at the time than the Iraq war”

Ash Soni, Board Member, National Pharmacy Association

“Having worked with PRimage on a number of projects, I value the company for their strategic thinking, enthusiasm and expertise. Judy’s honest, considered and committed approach to every decision and task makes her a great person to do business with. She is a top-notch PR professional and an excellent communicator who always goes “above and beyond” for her clients and associates: always delivering what she promises - in the timeframe and on budget. Without a doubt, she is someone who I would want to have on my team if I were facing a challenging communications situation, of any type, in any sector. I definitely recommend!”

Roy Weller, Managing Director, Versatile Distribution Ltd

“Judy brings clarity and vision to projects she works on and her understanding of the potential of pharmacy is a real asset to companies looking to engage with this increasingly influential sector.”

Helen Darracott, Director Legal and Regulatory Affairs, PAGB

“I witnessed Judy’s attention to detail creativity and project management skills whilst attending events and/or meetings during my numerous times in the UK. Her positive attitude and energy is infectious … just what you’d want from a PR expert!”

David Wendland, Vice President, Hamacher Resource Group, Inc.

“Judy has developed a very close working relationship with Day Lewis. We find her up to date knowledge and industry news clips very useful in our decision making process. Judy has recently helped us develop an annual report that was published for the first time in 2009. She has a well balanced view of the pharmacy industry and we have found her strategic thinking and clear communication skills invaluable.”

Tim Harrington, Commercial Manager, Day Lewis plc

“Judy is a first class Public Relations professional with extensive links and experience in the Pharmacy and Healthcare sector. She works well with trade and consumer PR alike and has a deft touch in putting across complex stories. Judy advises and counsels with expertise and drives to right solutions for all her clients. Diplomatic, engaging and discreet, Judy, is an excellent choice for any company.”

Gordon Farquhar, Commercial Director (Pharmacy), The Co-operative Group

“Judy is a highly experienced professional with a track record of managing complex communications projects with multiple stakeholders.”

Beverley Parkin, Director, Policy and Public Affairs, The Royal Academy of Engineering

“Judy has great expertise in PR, anticipating and providing accurate, timely and relevant information, whether it’s the long-term planning of campaigns, organising specific events, or responding to day-to-day press enquiries.”

Charles Gladwin, Editor Chemist & Druggist, Group Editor, Pharmacy, CMP Medica

“Working with Judy Viitanen as the head of PR at the NPA was a great experience. Judy has vast knowledge of the health service in the UK and its unique requirements in promoting the work resources of the NPA to the general public and to health sector professional alike. Her efforts improved the public profile of the Association as a professional membership body to that of the accepted voice of the high street pharmacist - working for the members and service users together to promote available services from pharmacists on a daily basis”

Colin Wilson, Owner and MD, CONFERENCETECH

“Judy is an extremely hard working results driven professional who is a pleasure to work with.”

Gill Bowness, Owner, Gill Bowness & Associates

“Over a number of years I had the pleasure of working with Judy providing insights to the community pharmacy sector on major IT issues. Judy’s talent in recognising what is needed and how to get it done delivers results”

Nigel Cox, Owner, Nigel Cox Consulting

“Pulling together the different voices of a trade association into a clear message is a difficult task and Judy’s skill and patience has achieved this”

Deirdre Doogan, Director of Government Relations, Lloydspharmacy

“Judy provides excellent support to myself as one of the member Companies of the Company Chemists Association. Her daily news bites are carefully crafted, to the point and always relevant.”

Martin Crisp, Head of Pharmacy, Superdrug

“We have collaborated with Judy on a number of projects and always found her to be well organised, professional and on top of all areas of the clients PR. I would happily recommend Judy for any PR needs your business may have.”

Ian Johnstone, Chairman, The GT4 Group Limited

“Judy is very well-known and respected in Community Pharmacy circles, following her long association with the NPA. Her news briefings are always ahead of the game, relevant and insightful, as well as being concise and digestible.”

Coll Michaels, Board Member, National Pharmacy Association

“I had the pleasure of working with Judy at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester a couple of years ago, when she organised the “Best of the Best” seminars that I presented at. I found her to be highly efficient and the consummate professional, and would have no hesitation in working with her again, or in recommending her to other professional colleagues.”

Stephen Foster, Pharmacy Superintendent, Pierremont Pharmacy Limited

“Huge experience in the pharmacy sector has given Judy an excellent insight into what journalists want. And she knows how to get the most from her clients. Judy is proactive and super efficient.”

Steve Bremer, Commissioning Editor, Atalink

“Judy is incredibly well connected to the pulse of UK pharmacy and its suppliers. She has a unique balance of a keen mind and a wonderful upbeat personality and is consistently a great pleasure to work with. Her news letter is my weekly update on all that is happening and contains both facts and insights that are very valuable to our decision making.”

Steve Roden, CEO, LearnSomething Inc.

“I’m delighted to recommend Judy. She has a wealth of PR and public affairs experience and uses her skills and experience to communicate effectively and succinctly. Her ability to quickly grasp the key issues and her practical and straightforward approach to her work makes her incredibly easy to work with.”

Sue Wiseman, Head of Human Resources, National Pharmacy Association

“Judy is a talented communications professional. Working with her is a pleasure.”

Debbie Wilkes, Editor & Publisher of OTC bulletin and Joint Managing Director, OTC Publications Ltd

“Judy is always an invaluable source of objective and detailed support. Her professionalism, energy and enthusiasm always ensures she is on the pulse with healthcare and related issues.”

Catherine Stanley, Contract - Project Manager, CMS

“Judy is a brilliant events organiser, a superb business person and a great PR and public affairs executive. She is very well connected and she will undoubtedly ensure your business is well placed to succeed.”

Georgina Craig, Head of Communications and Partnerships, Company Chemists’ Association

“Judy gets things done. Period. She has the drive and energy of a whole department and she knows how best to look after even the most tender PR task. She will even organise your annual event, sourcing cosy, intimate venues for 60-70 all the way up to national events for hundreds. If you need PR work done, then you are trusting your business and reputation to your PR partner, and I know of no other whom I would trust with this task.”

Richard Lycett, Owner, Richard Lycett Photography