Cortez named global health care correspondent at Bloomberg

Bloomberg News managing editor Emma O’Brien sent out the following:

Hello all,

Since arriving in Hong Kong in the midst of Covid, Michelle Cortez has helped supercharge our coverage of the pandemic and wider healthcare space, not just in Asia but globally.

She’s jumped between the role of editor and writer, penning some of our most compelling stories on the virus — from her Big Take series on the outlook of the pandemic, to her blockbuster on the last foreign scientist in the Wuhan lab. As the China Covid Zero story intensified, she’s been key to our prescient coverage of the policy’s rise and evolution. At the same time, she’s brought her decades of experience on the beat and across the world to bear, becoming a touchstone on all things health and medical science in the region — not just for the Consumer, Healthcare & Media team, but for the wider newsroom.

That’s why we’re pleased to announce that Michelle will be taking on the new title of Global Healthcare Correspondent.

In this role, Michelle will have more scope to work with reporters on the biggest healthcare and science themes and to spearhead her own stories. While she will continue to work on edits (in the true Asia all-hands-on-deck spirit!) Michelle’s focus as we move into 2023 will shift more toward fostering and generating ideas and executing strong, elevated stories. The pandemic has brought science and biosecurity to the fore for readers and investors, and healthcare systems have been tested like never before. Michelle will be a driving force for that coverage, working with reporters to bring our work to even greater heights.

She’ll continue to be based in Hong Kong, but with the city creaking open the door, she’ll be traveling more — especially in Asia.

Karen Leigh‘s return from parental leave in January will reinforce Global Business Asia’s stellar editing bench, as Michelle’s gaze shifts.

Please join us in congratulating Michelle on this well-deserved new role,

Emma and Rachel.