VMLY&R Health has promoted WPP veteran Claire Gillis into the new role of CEO. The agency further expanded its leadership team with the appointments of Jason Gloye as North America co-lead and chief client officer, Christianna Gorin as North America co-lead and chief experience officer and Olivia Collins as managing director of global growth. The company also named Walt Geer as chief experience design officer, a role thought to be the first of its kind at a major medical marketing agency.
The hires are part of the agency’s efforts to maintain momentum after a year that saw a 17% jump in global revenue.
“We’ve pulled together the best bits of VMLY&R to make sure our position is that we create connected brands that make science meaningful,” Gillis said. “We already come to the table with science and medicine. What we’re dialling up is how that works with customer experience, experience design, creativity and strategy.”
Gillis pointed to continued digital transformation and health equity as two of her top priorities moving forward.
“The goal is to deliver the right message to the right physician. Take, for example, a physician in Texas – we know what he’s doing and what makes a difference for him, as opposed to a physician in Paris who might get his information entirely differently,” Gillis explained. “Our systems learn what that means for clients, and it leads to more efficiency.”
Gillis previously co-founded consultancy WG Group, which was later acquired by WPP. She became international CEO of the WPP Health Practice in 2016 before joining VMLY&R in 2020.
