• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, February 6, 2017

WPP is reorganizing its specialist healthcare practices and forming a new health-focused “sub-holding company” called WPP Health & Wellness.

It is designed to better manage and drive growth at its myriad healthcare agencies.

The new operation will coordinate an array of services for healthcare agency clients. They include advertising, media investment management, data & insights, technology, digital CRM, marketing innovation, public relations/public affairs, as well the various healthcare-specific services provided by the agencies in that sector.

WPP veteran Mike Hudnall has been appointed CEO of the new Health & Wellness. He has been quietly organizing the operation for the last several months.

Previously, Hudnall was a global client leader at the holding company since 2012. Before that, he was cofounder and chief strategic officer at marketing services firm Evoke Health. Earlier, he was director of client services at digital shop imc2.

A number of existing agencies — which will retain their current branding — are being placed within the new unit, including Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide, Sudler & Hennessey, ghg | greyhealth group, and CMI/Compas.

In the Americas, the leadership of those agencies will remain in place.

To service markets outside of the Americas, Health & Wellness is creating a new international unit with hubs in Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. It will be led by Claire Gillis, who has been appointed International CEO, Healthcare Specialist Agencies. Previously, she was CEO of ghg | greyhealth group Europe.

Commenting on the new unit WPP CEO Martin Sorrell stated: “Health and wellness is one of the most exciting sectors of the global economy and offers enormous opportunities for our businesses. WPP Health & Wellness will build on the excellent work we are already doing in this space and take us into new areas with a much more comprehensive offer.

"This new unit is significant because it represents the next evolution of horizontality, through which WPP will continue to lead and transform health marketing.”