London, 28 March, 2011 - WPP’s Ogilvy Group UK has launched Ogilvy Digital Health, a consultancy that combines the healthcare marketing communication expertise of Ogilvy Healthworld UK with the skills of the digital team at brand activation specialist OgilvyAction. Seamlessly blending experience and expertise from both agencies, Ogilvy Digital Health specialises in developing digital communications solutions for the healthcare sector. The agencies have a longstanding history of working in partnership to engage healthcare audiences through digital platforms. Ogilvy Digital Health will be led by managing partners Caroline Howe and Simon Stebbing.

While Ogilvy Digital Health is a new entity, both agencies have a strong heritage in their respective fields of expertise. Ogilvy Healthworld has an unmatched depth and breadth of experience in healthcare communications; while OgilvyAction has unparalleled marketing experience built with leading consumer and B2B brands.

‘Ogilvy Healthworld is well-versed in successfully communicating health messages via a range of platforms, and knows how to navigate the complex regulatory environment of healthcare,’ said Stebbing. ‘OgilvyAction’s large digital team has unrivalled experience in activating audiences via social media and digital technologies. Ogilvy Digital Health brings these disciplines and skills together so clients have access to best-in-class health and digital marketing expertise – and all under one roof.’

Howe added: ‘Ogilvy Healthworld has been delivering award-winning digital work for its pharmaceutical clients for some time. Ogilvy Digital Health will further drive and develop the digital healthcare capabilities of clients to reach both consumers and professional audiences. Clients will have ready access to both skill sets, seamlessly.’

The move aligns two teams that have already been working closely together with clients including Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Lundbeck, Roche and Bayer. To date, Ogilvy Healthworld has carried out strategic and concept work rooted in healthcare knowledge, with OgilvyAction providing the strategy, design and implementation from the digital aspect.

‘Digital is becoming an integral part of communication strategies across the board,’ said Paul O’Donnell, chairman, Ogilvy Group UK. ‘In healthcare particularly, clients are looking for a partner who not only understands effective communication with both professional and consumer audiences, but who can also navigate a complex regulatory environment. OgilvyAction and Ogilvy Healthworld bring years of knowledge and expertise to Ogilvy Digital Health to strike the right balance between technology and healthcare for clients.’

The new agency has full access to Ogilvy Healthworld’s PR, medical education, advertising, clinical trials recruitment and digital communications practices as well as the Group’s progressive Digital Labs’ network, which contains cutting edge technology to help clients develop digital marketing solutions across all online media and channels.

OgilvyAction
OgilvyAction is the global brand activation network of The Ogilvy Group. With its 82 offices and 2000 people, OgilvyAction delivers a broad range of services including experiential marketing, shopper marketing, trade marketing and promotional services. Supporting each of these is a capability in field marketing, digital activation, retail design and analytics that builds brands by creating purchase behaviour. The agency’s client portfolio features Fortune 500 Blue Chip brands and some of the most innovative local marketers around the world. OgilvyAction is part of the WPP Group, one of the world's largest communications services organizations (NASDAQ: WPPGY, www.wpp.com.) For more information, visit our website at www.ogilvyaction.com.

Ogilvy Healthworld UK
Ogilvy Healthworld UK is a leading multidisciplinary MarComms agency based in Paddington, part of a worldwide network with local and regional offices across the globe. The agency houses specialist practices delivering PR, medical education, advertising, clinical trials recruitment and digital communications. It retains business for many of the world’s leading pharmaceutical and consumer health companies and brands, including Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis and Pfizer. For more information, visit www.ogilvyhealthworld.com.

Contacts:
Bhavna Mistry, Velvet PR: 0208 996 1802 - Bhavna@velvetpr.biz
Jo Sensini, Velvet PR: 0208 996 1800 - Jo@velvetpr.biz
Wendy Gerber, OHPR: 0207 108 6046 - Wendy.Gerber@ogilvy.com