WPP merges healthcare marketing agencies

The new company will operate under the Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide umbrella but keep CommonHealth and Ogilvy Healthworld brand identities in some markets.

CommonHealth president and CEO Matt Giegerich (pictured) will serve as chairman and CEO of the new company and an executive council made up of the leadership of both firms will support him.

Giegerich said: “This couldn’t be a more perfect union. CommonHealth has collaborated extensively with Ogilvy Healthworld for the past 15 years and we have an enormous amount of trust in the talent, leadership and capabilities of this considerable network. By combining our two organisations — and the remarkable collective talent pool within — we can now offer clients all the communications resources necessary to create and grow powerful, unified global brands in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.”

Ogilvy & Mather global CEO Miles Young added: “The scale this venture brings us will be a powerful catalyst to this change, and will give clients access, innovation and creativity, in depth, around the world.”

CommonHealth specialises in research-based consulting, media planning and brand design while Ogilvy Healthworld offers a range of advertising, PR and relationship marketing services to healthcare clients.