Omnicom Health Group launches DDB Health, combining AgencyRx, Flashpoint, Synergy and DDB Health into single integrated offering

Omnicom Health Group CMO Josh Prince to lead network

New York / June 29, 2016— Omnicom Health Group today announced that it is creating DDB Health. The new network combines several US and European professional healthcare agencies to form a dedicated, integrated healthcare network. Building on the group’s global depth of medical and healthcare experience—combined with DDB’s creative heritage—DDB Health is being founded to help clients use creativity as a force for good health.

According to Ed Wise, CEO of Omnicom Health Group, “DDB’s creative heritage is world class. Align this with proven healthcare talent—talent that’s helping clients innovate and grow through creativity and technology—and we have something powerful.”

The newly formed DDB Health unites AgencyRx and Flashpoint Medica, two award-winning professional Omnicom Health Group agencies, into a US-based unit with offices in New York and San Francisco. In addition, DDB Health brings global scale, marrying the talents of DDB Health Germany, DDB Health Paris, and Synergy, a global medical education offering with offices in London and Philadelphia. DDB Health will also partner with other DDB offerings and agencies worldwide.

Josh Prince has been named CEO.

“Bill Bernbach, one of the founders of DDB, said you have to stand for something. DDB Health will stand for using creative as a force for good health,” said Prince. “We have incredible, inventive healthcare people in the agencies we’re bringing together. We have a real digital-first outlook, and the work to show for it. We have brave clients that are innovators in their own right, making important, life-changing therapies. Together, we can solve complex problems for doctors, patients, and brands.”

Chuck Brymer, CEO of DDB Worldwide, pointed to consumer health as a key area for collaboration. “People everywhere are having their say on health. And we’ve helped influence that with work like our groundbreaking campaign for HPV vaccination. We’re looking forward to partnering with Josh and his team to leverage DDB’s consumer expertise across our entire global network.”

Prince has tapped Jennie Fischette as President of DDB Health in the US. “Jennie is a proven leader and a great steward of client business and trust,” said Prince. “I know this firsthand from working with her several years ago within the Omnicom network.” Michael Schreiber will serve as DDB Health’s US Executive Creative Director,and Nicole Johnson will serve as Managing Director for DDB Health’s San Francisco office.Rounding out this new leadership team will be the talents of CEO Stefanie Dürnberger who will lead DDB Health Germany­, and Pascal Douek, Managing Director to head DDB Health Paris as President. Gareth Evans will serve as CEO of Synergy UK, and Barbara Mische as President, Synergy US.

“We have a superb and diverse leadership team,” noted Prince, “and I love how it aligns with DDB’s ‘Talent Has No Gender’ mission. Jennie and I—along with our other global leaders—are determined to make this a priority at DDB Health.”

In addition to his role as CEO of DDB Health, Prince will also serve as Chief Marketing Officer of Omnicom Health Group. Prince was formerly President of the CDM Group (Cannes Lions Health 2015 Healthcare Network of the Year), where he shaped culture, direction and work for twenty-nine years. He also co-founded HealthWork, an award-winning DTC joint venture between BBDO and CDM. In 2015, Prince was named Industry Person of the Year by Med Ad News, and served as the 2016 Jury President, Health & Wellness, for Cannes Lions Health.

About DDB Health

DDB Health (www.ddbhealth.com), part of the Omnicom Health Group, is a global network of healthcare communications companies dedicated to helping clients use creativity—and creative technology—as a force for good health. Through deep insight into customers, channels, and behavior, DDB Health creates meaningful change on behalf of important healthcare brands.

About Omnicom Health Group

Omnicom Health Group (www.omnicomhealthgroup.com) is a global collective of communications companies with more than 3,200 dedicated healthcare communications specialists. It provides marketing services to the health and life-science industries through a combination of specialized agencies, customized client solutions, and collaborations with other Omnicom network agencies. Organized around four customer groups—healthcare professionals, patients, payers, and medical, evidence and regulatory stakeholders—Omnicom Health Group serves more than 100 clients in over 55 offices worldwide.

About Omnicom Group Inc.

Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries. Follow us on Twitter for the latest news.

Ban Ki-Moon Brings Together Advertising’s “Big Six” In Cannes

Friday 24th June 2016

BAN KI-MOON BRINGS TOGETHER ADVERTISING’S “BIG SIX” IN CANNES

UN Secretary-General calls on global business to follow communication industry’s example as Dentsu, Havas, IPG, Omnicom, Publicis and WPP pledge collective support for Sustainable Development Goals

In an unprecedented step for the industry, the world’s biggest advertising and marketing services groups will put aside competitive differences at this week’s Cannes Lions Festival to launch a major new initiative – “Common Ground” – in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted at the United Nations last year.

At the suggestion of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, for the first time rival parent company chief executives will take the stage together to demonstrate their shared commitment to deploying the power of the creative industries to help address the world’s most pressing problems.

The Secretary-General will speak at the Cannes Debate at noon on Friday 24th June in the Palais des Festivals, before being joined by leaders of the different groups.

The Common Ground programme will begin with a global advertising campaign, with space donated by key business and thought-leadership publications.

Following the Cannes Lions Festival, each group will focus on a specific area of the SDGs over the coming year, where possible and necessary working collaboratively across parent companies. They will also encourage other industries to find their own Common Ground.

In addition, the six companies have agreed to provide a development fund for each of the winning ideas in the Cannes Young Lions competition, which this year is devoted solely to the SDGs. These funds will be used to develop the concepts and give them the strongest possible chance of being put into practice. This is the first time the Young Lions have been given a development fund, providing an opportunity to bring their ideas to fruition, directly contributing to the achievement of the goals and continuing to raise awareness of them.

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undefinedundefinedThe seventeenth and final SDG is based on the idea that collaborative partnerships will be essential if all of the SDGs, ranging from eradicating poverty to tackling climate change, are to be achieved.

Speaking ahead of the Cannes Debate, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged competing firms from other sectors to follow suit and make their own Common Ground commitments to supporting the SDGs:

“Common Ground is breaking ground. This initiative is not only about the advertising industry’s considerable influence in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals around the world. By putting aside their differences, these companies are also setting a powerful example for others to follow.”

In a joint statement, Tadashi Ishii, Chief Executive Officer and President of Dentsu; Yannick Bolloré, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Havas; Michael Roth, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IPG; John Wren, President and Chief Executive Officer of Omnicom; Maurice Lévy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Publicis Groupe; and Sir Martin Sorrell, founder and Chief Executive Officer of WPP, said:

“The Common Ground initiative recognises that the global issues the UN has identified transcend commercial rivalry. By working in partnership to support the Sustainable Development Goals, we want to demonstrate that even fierce competitors can set aside their differences in order to serve a wider common interest. We hope others in and beyond our own business decide to do the same.”

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Further information:

Joanne Trout: [email protected]; +12039217646

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

In September 2015, UN Member States unanimously adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focused on the three interconnected elements of: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection. With 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at its core, the Agenda is universal, integrated and transformative and aims to spur actions that will end poverty, reduce inequality and tackle climate change between now and 2030.
www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment

Omnicom Agencies to Present Ground Breaking Programming on Purpose-Driven Marketing at Cannes Lions 2016

Next Generation Superstars Compete in the Young Lions Competition to Support United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

NEW YORK, June 13, 2016— Omnicom Group (NYSE:OMC) is returning to Cannes, France, for the 63rd annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity from June 18 through June 25 with a host of sessions, both on and off the Main Stage, focused on purpose-driven marketing and authenticity. In addition, winning teams from Toronto to Taguig City will compete on behalf of Omnicom agencies in the Young Lions Competition. They will have 24 hours to answer a brief focused solely on developing ideas in line with the United Nations SDGs. 

For more than 60 years, the Cannes Lions Awards have set the benchmark for excellence in creative communications both honoring new talent as well as industry legends. Industry great Marcello Serpa, AlmapBBDO, will be presented with the prestigious Lion of St. Mark at this year’s Festival. Lastly, more than 50 Omnicom agency leaders have been named as jurors across the full range of categories.

Below are some of the highlights: 

BBDO

DDB

DAS

Omnicom Media Group

  • OMD Oasis returns for another year of premier programming and thought leadership sessions with a focus on purpose-driven brands rooted in authenticity and innovation.
  • Daryl Simm, CEO, Omnicom Media Group will join Facebook, McDonald’s and The New York Times for “Brand Building in the New Marketplace: The Future of Video”
  • PHD Worldwide will explore the 12 inevitable tech trends at this year’s Cannes Lions during, “Predestination: PHD and Wired’s Kevin Kelly on Where we are all Heading
  • Will a Robot Ever Win” features an elite panel comprised of PHD and Critical Mass
  • PHD is the official Cannes Lions app partner for the sixth year running, bringing delegates ‘See & Connect’ – personalized recommendations based on your profile.

TBWA

To view the complete schedule of Omnicom activities and event programming by day, please visit OmnicomEvents.com

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Press Contacts

Joanne Trout, 212-415-3669, [email protected]

Regina Chung Loy, 212-415-3452, [email protected]

ANA Report: Omnicom Media Statement

We have not yet had a chance to fully review the ANA study, however based on the overview provided in the press release we believe that the key findings – neither quantified nor qualified, and based on a small sampling of unnamed sources – do not accurately portray how Omnicom’s agencies work on behalf of our clients; in so doing, it does not serve the best interests of the clients that the ANA purports to represent.

As we have said since the ANA first launched its study last year, we believe that trust and disclosure are the cornerstone of every client relationship. This means that all of our US media agency clients receive all value negotiated on their behalf in the form it is received. Compliance with each individual client contract has always been central to that trust at Omnicom – as is transparency in the structure and execution of each contract. 

We also offer proprietary opt-in services that provide certain benefits to clients. These are openly disclosed, discussed and agreed upon by clients who understand the value and choose to participate. These services remain separate and apart from our agency media buying teams.

Omnicom takes seriously its obligations to investigate and appropriately redress any credible allegation of misconduct by its companies or personnel. Our outside legal counsel has asked the ANA, K2 and Ebiquity to provide specifics on any information their investigation has uncovered relating to Omnicom agencies and they have provided none.

We take seriously our responsibility as an industry leader to address any issues that impact the ethics and standards of our industry as a whole – and to that end we continue to both support and be actively involved in the leadership efforts to establish media industry standards.

We encourage our clients who have any questions to contact us directly.

Press Contacts

Joanne Trout, 212-415-3669, [email protected]

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