MS&L Group hired CNBC pharma reporter Mike Huckman as SVP, director of media strategy in its healthcare practice. Huckman will provide senior level media counsel to MS&L Group healthcare clients, contribute to new business development and serve as a healthcare PR thought leader, MS&L said. Huckman has covered the drug, biotech and medical device beats for CNBC since 2000.

Publicis Healthcare Communications Group acquired In-Sync Customer Insights, a market research consultancy whose staff of 75 services biopharma clients worldwide. The addition bolsters PHCG’s healthcare customer insights capability. The shop will continue to be based in Toronto and led by founding partner and president Janet Winkler.

Hacker Group, a Seattle-based digital and direct marketing shop, announced that it is launching a health insurance marketing practice, dubbed HealthHG. The practice will be led by VP account services Jill Kaufman and chief strategist Tom Reid.

MicroMass Communications was named agency of record by the North Carolina Advanced Medical Technologies Center of Innovation. The agency will support the launch of the new center.