BOSTON — Capitalizing on Boston’s growing health tech industry, WE Communications has hired longtime PR exec Stephanie Worrell, who brings expertise in the sector, to run its New England operation.

As senior VP and general manager, Worrell will oversee WE’s business in Boston, and across New England, and assume a health sector leadership role. She replaces Catherine Allen, who left the agency to be with her family full-time, according to WE.

With a 30-year career in communications, Worrell has been tapped for her breadth of expertise, particularly a deep understanding of health IT and communications challenges specific to the healthcare industry as it undergoes a tech-driven transformation, WE said.

Since selling her interest in the agency Red Sky Public Relations in 2013, Worrell has worked as a consultant, which included leading communications strategy for St. Luke’s Health System in Idaho around IT and payer and physician services. Earlier in her career, she worked with a wide range of brands including America’s Cup, ESPN, Hewlett-Packard and Pacific Gas & Electric.

“Having strong leadership in Boston is an important part of WE’s strategy to be in markets where our clients need us most,” said Kass Sells, WE’s North American president. “And Boston is recognized as the US city best placed to capitalize on the shift to a digital economy, as well as a global leader in the health tech and life sciences industry.”