 |
| Publicis Healthcare CEO Nick Colucci |
Publicis Groupe announced a major reorganization this week that puts healthcare in the spotlight as one of its now only four divisions.
Publicis Communications, Publicis Media, Publicis.Sapient and Publicis Healthcare are now "hubs," intended to break down barriers between agency brands and offer more integrated services to clients.
The Healthcare hub will likely be least affected by the changes as it was, as Publicis Healthcare Communications Group, already more or less running as an end-to-end client focused unit.
Advertising Age noted the group already houses "most of the holding company's healthcare operations, including Digitas Health Lifebrands, Razorfish Health and Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness."
Publicis Chairman and CEO Maurice Levy, in fact, noted that the unit is already integrated in a video announcement of the reorganization, saying, "One word on Publicis Healthcare led by Nick Colucci who has done a terrific job by creating the only fully integrated healthcare and pharma solution. It covers all our client needs from new product launch to the transition to generic branding, including digital application and salesforce management."
While the move does give healthcare top billing along with the other agency functions, it is still clearly a specialty. As many journalists called the new division heads, along with the new chief revenue officer, next-in-line candidates for Levy's job, everyone but healthcare chief Colucci was included on that list. Even Levy, who is expected to step down in 2017, told Ad Age in a Q&A when asked about succession plans, that the board will have to decide among the four, and did not include Colucci.
- see the Publicis news release (PDF)
- read Ad Age article and Q&A
Special Report: The top 10 advertisers in Big Pharma