Publicis Health - Woman of the Year - Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations

Company: Publicis Health, New York, NY
Company Description: At Publicis Health, we are united around one purpose: to create a world where people are equipped and motivated to take control of their health. We believe healthcare marketing is healthcare, fostering healthy conversations, healthy behaviors, and healthy people. Employing more than 3,000 professionals, Publicis Health has 40 offices across 11 brands. Visit www.publicishealth.com to learn more.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Woman of the Year - Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations

Nomination Title: Alexandra von Plato

As Publicis Health’s first female CEO, Alex has elevated Publicis Health in the global marketplace through a number of strategic initiatives:

-Launched Industry-Leading Health Data Platform: Recognizing the importance of data in healthcare marketing, Alex launched the advertising industry’s only data & analytics community, ARIS. In a HIPAA-compliant manner, ARIS unites healthcare data with consumer marketing data to help brands gain a deeper understanding of patients to deliver mass personalization across channels and drive better health outcomes.

-Oversaw Launch of HealthFront: As CEO of Publicis Health, Alex oversees Publicis Health Media, the world’s largest health media agency, with more than $3B in annual media investment. In July 2019, PHM launched the HealthFront, the first Upfront specifically designed for the healthcare media marketplace.

-Drove Double-Digit Revenue Growth: Alex led Publicis Health through several growth years, including double-digit growth in 2020, by having the vision to expand Publicis Health’s client base beyond pharmaceutical marketers into retail health, health systems, biotechs, and clinical trials.

-Identified & Appointed Critical Executive Role: To ensure patients of all stripes have a voice in healthcare communications, Alex appointed the advertising industry’s first Chief Patient Officer, Susan Manber.

-Led Award-Winning Mental Health Initiatives: Alex implemented an array of mental health & wellness initiatives including: an increased health & wellness stipend, a flexible vacation policy, and training hosted in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). In April 2021, Alex’s advocacy was recognized when NAMI Chicago honored Publicis Health as an Outstanding Workplace Leader in Mental Health.

As a creatively minded student, Alexandra von Plato started down the advertising and communications path by dreaming up jingles and marketing ideas for the restaurant where she waited tables during college. After graduation, Alex worked in broadcast journalism, where she fell in love with the power of storytelling, later becoming Chief Creative Officer of Philadelphia’s largest healthcare agency, Digitas Health. It was there that she found her true calling: using the power of storytelling to equip and motivate people to take control of their health.

Alex believes that work can be a place of healing and is a vocal champion of destigmatizing mental illness—long before it was popular to do so. For her, supporting mental health is deeply personal: a year before becoming CEO of Publicis Health, Alex’s beloved sister Stephanie died by suicide.

Today as CEO of Publicis Health, Alex leads a team of more than 3,000 healthcare marketing professionals in 40 offices and 11 brands across the globe—working with eight of the 10 largest global pharma companies and emerging biotechs, while overseeing more than $3B in annual media investment. This team has achieved wonders in the face of adversity, posting double-digit growth, a testament to Alex’s vision.

In the world of advertising and marketing, it’s rare for a leader to rise to the role of Chief Executive Officer coming from the creative ranks. Alex von Plato has proven herself to be that rare hybrid agency leader who has successfully integrated an award-winning creative career with great business acumen. The double-digit revenue growth at Publicis Health over the past year is just one example of how Alex’s vision and leadership continues to shepherd the organization to success through tumultuous times.

As a creative problem-solver, Alex is frequently the first to conceive of innovative solutions—and often the last to take credit. She was one of the first creative executives to realize and leverage the groundbreaking opportunities of digital in support of healthcare clients and remains at the forefront shaping the role of media and new technologies in healthcare communications.

While Alex has eschewed the spotlight, she has fostered a work environment that allows others to shine, especially women and other historically marginalized people, including LGBTQ, people of color, and those with diverse educational and career backgrounds. Throughout her career, Alex has championed diversity, equity and inclusion, establishing an organizational culture of meritocracy that recognizes and celebrates differences.

At a time when mental health and well-being has become top-of-mind at many organizations, Alex is a longtime proponent of destigmatizing mental illness. She is a leader who understands the critical importance of allowing people to bring their whole selves to work—especially the parts that aren’t always visible to the naked eye.

Reference any attachments of supporting materials

Please watch this video featuring several of Alex's direct reports and colleagues from across Publicis Health: https://vimeo.com/579979034/b20a58c92b