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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 (below).

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,” says Simon. “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.”

Caroline adds: “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,” says 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 is the shopper marketing and activation arm of the Ogilvy network.

OgilvyAction London has promoted Paul Garner (above) to the role of executive creative director, UK.

Paul will work across OgilvyAction’s business in the UK with a remit to integrate the off- and online creative offers. He will report directly to OgilvyAction chief operating officer Andrew Reeves, and continue to work closely with offline creative director Jeff Witek and digital executive creative director Greg McAlinden to build the agency’s creative credentials. As ECD Paul will oversee the creative output of the biggest country office in the global OgilvyAction network.

“It’s an exciting time for OgilvyAction – activation has become one of the most important elements of the marketing mix and we’re a leader in the field,” says Paul. “Integrating the creative skills of our digital and offline teams will allow us to effectively mine the wealth of talent we already have here.”

Garner joined OgilvyAction as creative partner in 2008 from Dialogue141.  He was promoted to joint creative director in 2009, working on clients including Ford, Coca-Cola, Siemens and Kodak.

Andrew Reeves says: “Creativity remains at the core of our agency, so Paul’s promotion to executive creative director is a huge development in our business. Paul is credible, inspirational – and somewhat opinionated. His creative leadership allows us to drive the agency forward to deliver ever more holistic solutions.”

Garner, 40, graduated in 1997 and entered into a career in journalism before moving on to work at various agencies. He joined WPP agency Dialogue in 2006.

OgilvyAction is the shopper marketing and activation arm of the Ogilvy network.

OgilvyAction wins a Merit at the MAA Awards in the Best Development of Agency Talent category.

OgilvyAction is the shopper marketing and activation arm of the Ogilvy network.