• by Larissa Faw , February 9, 2015

As the healthcare industry continues to undergo major transformation, Publicis is streamlining its healthcare businesses Digitas Health LifeBrands, Publicis LifeBrands Medicus and Heartbeat Ideas into Publicis Healthcare, under new group president North America Alexandra von Plato. 

In this newly created role, von Plato will oversee all North American operations for the aforementioned Publicis Healthcare agencies, including client relations, finance, HR, communications and creative. 

“Alex is a visionary leader who has successfully grown Digitas Health LifeBrands and Publicis LifeBrands into powerhouse organizations,” said Nick Colucci, President and CEO, Publicis Healthcare. “I am confident she will reinvent the way we interact with our clients and usher the organizations to new heights in a post-digital healthcare age.”

For the last nine years, von Plato has served as Global Chief Creative Officer and co-president with Michael du Toit for Digitas Health LifeBrands and Publicis LifeBrands. However, du Toit recently left the agency to become president of Everyday Health.

With his departure, the agency evolved the position to expand the scope and responsibilities. As one of the founding members of the LifeBrands leadership team and her accomplishments to date, agency insiders say von Plato was the single candidate considered for the post.

She now manages a combined staff of LifeBrands and Heartbeat Ideas, totaling over 600 people. In the U.S., the operation has offices in New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Publicis Healthcare falls under Publicis Healthcare Communications Group, which manages 12 agency brands through 70 offices located in 10 countries.