NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas today announced Joseph Devaney as vice president, Government Affairs and Policy, Americas reporting to Jeffrey Winton, SVP of Corporate Affairs effective July 11.  Devaney will be based in Astellas' Washington, DC office.

Devaney will be responsible for leading Astellas' Government Affairs and Policy team and developing, communicating, and implementing Astellas' federal and state government strategies, engagement activities and policy development across all functional areas.  He will serve as a key representative of Astellas to policy decision leaders and trade organizations.

Devaney joins Astellas after 20 years at Sanofi and its predecessor companies, where he held roles of increasing responsibility in public policy and market access, including most recently the role of Vice President of Federal and State Relations.  Prior to Sanofi, Devaney was director of state government affairs for Sandoz, which became part of Novartis in 1996.  Devaney also supported the New Jersey State Legislature, including research director and Chief of Staff in the New Jersey General Assembly. 

"Joe's experience and leadership will elevate our highly collaborative team of senior government strategy, policy, legislative and regulatory professionals in Washington, D.C.," Winton said. "His role in developing Astellas' strategy on public policy issues being considered by government lawmakers and trade associations will be pivotal in Astellas' growth throughout the Americas region."

Devaney received his B.S. in History and Politics from Drexel University in Philadelphia and his Master's in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. 

About Astellas
Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.us. You can also follow us on Twitter at @AstellasUS, Facebook at www.facebook.com/AstellasUS or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/astellas-pharma.

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SOURCE Astellas