Looking to take a more humanistic approach to healthcare marketing, Havas Health last week became Havas Health & You and combined its professional and consumer healthcare businesses.
CEO Donna Murphy, who was also the CEO of professional agency Havas Health, will oversee the consolidation of previously separate agencies that include Havas Life, Health4Brands and Havas Lynx. Murphy, who began working at Havas Health in 1987 when there were just 40 employees—there are now more than 4,000—said the consolidation has been a dream of hers.
“Most of our professional work and our consumer work in OTC and wellness were in silos,” she said. “But today it’s all about wellness and about health and you, it’s not separate. People are focused on their total health.”
Having one united group will result in more creativity and innovation at a quicker pace for clients, Murphy said.
Yannick Bolloré, chairman-CEO of the larger Havas Group, said in a statement that “Havas Health & You will be truly ‘together’ in the best sense, converged and working without regard to borders or any antiquated marketing distinctions to serve the pharmaceutical and life sciences brands and products we have always served as well as companies that are in the business of nurturing and healing.”
In its news release, Havas noted the expansion of the health economy, which grew to $3.7 trillion globally in 2015 and is expected to grow another $500 billion to $750 billion by 2021.