NORTHBROOK, Ill., April 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas today announced that Jennifer Saputo has been appointed to the role of associate director, Employee Communications, as part of the Company's newly formed Corporate Affairs department. Saputo will manage and implement employee communications throughout the Americas region.

"Engaging employees in the Astellas mission and strategy is critical to the organization's overall success," said Jeff Winton, senior vice president, chief communications officer, Corporate Affairs. "Jennifer's rich experience in employee communications in the pharmaceutical industry will provide a valued perspective on furthering our working environment and culture."

Saputo has extensive pharmaceutical industry experience, most recently at AbbVie, Inc., where she managed global human resources, internal communication. Prior to her time at AbbVie, Saputo worked at Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America and TAP Pharmaceutical Products. Saputo earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in organizational communication from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

Winton oversees the newly formed Corporate Affairs department at Astellas. This department combines State and Federal Government Affairs, Corporate, Employee and Business Communications, Advocacy, Corporate Branding, Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Events, effectively uniting the Astellas voice among all internal and external stakeholders. Saputo will report to Moyra Knight, senior director, Employee and Corporate Communications, in Corporate Affairs.

About Astellas
Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceuticals. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.us, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AstellasUS or like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AstellasUS.

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