Publicis Health - Women-Run Workplace of the Year

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: Company/Organization Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Women-Run Workplace of the Year - More Than 10 Employees

Nomination Title: Publicis Health

Publicis Health is the world’s largest healthcare communications network, with 40 offices and 11 brands across the globe. The health and wellness vertical of Publicis Groupe—the worldwide leader in marketing communications—Publicis Health’s 3,000+ worldwide staff are healthcare professionals who are experts in advertising and branding, data and analytics, strategic planning, service design, digital media and technology, science, and medicine. Publicis Health companies include Digitas Health, Heartbeat, insync, Langland, Payer Sciences, PlowShare Group, Publicis Health France, Publicis Health Media, Razorfish Health, Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness, and Verilogue. Publicis Health companies work with eight of the ten largest pharmaceutical companies, along with biotechs, health & wellness retailers, pharmacies, hospital systems, and laboratory corporations. Publicis Health has been on a steady growth trajectory, experiencing double digit growth in 2020, under the leadership of Alexandra von Plato, the network’s first female CEO. Publicis Health’s executive leadership team is largely female, including our Chief Patient Officer, Chief Creative Officer, and Chief Talent Officer. More than half of our business units are led by women presidents and managing directors. For more information about Publicis Health, visit us at www.publicishealth.com .

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

Launched Innovative Health Data Platform: Recognizing the importance of data in healthcare, Alex launched the industry’s leading 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, delivering personalized engagements and better health outcomes.

Drove Significant Growth: Alex led Publicis Health through several growth years, including double-digit growth in 2020, a time when health was thrust into the spotlight, by expanding the client base beyond pharmaceuticals into retail health, health systems, biotechs and clinical trials.

Built Platform to Combat Healthcare Inequity: Alex built “The Health Visibility Project,” a multicultural health engagement solution that designs communications solutions for historically underserved populations. Since launch, the Health Visibility Project is:
-Partnering with America’s largest pharmacy to help underserved populations get the medication they need
-Working with one of the world’s largest drug developers to fuel clinical trial recruitment, engagement and completion among underserved people
-Helping the world’s largest retailer address healthcare deserts and increase flu and COVID-19 vaccinations

Prioritized Mental Health Initiatives: Alex implemented an array of mental health & wellness initiatives including: an increased 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.

In healthcare communications, 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 healthcare communications 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.

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