NEW YORK, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Ogilvy Healthworld and CommonHealth, two of WPP's premier healthcare marketing networks, today announced the formation of Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide. The new entity, a combination of Ogilvy Healthworld and CommonHealth, becomes the single most innovative, resourceful — and largest — healthcare communications network in the world, with over 1,100 employees in 64 offices across 33 countries.

Matt Giegerich, President and CEO of WPP's CommonHealth, will serve as Chairman & CEO of the newly-formed organization and hold responsibility for continued growth through client-focused insight, innovation and integration across disciplines, channels and geographies. The core offerings of Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide will span the 360 degree range of professional and consumer advertising and promotion, relationship marketing, digital/interactive services, media planning and buying, public affairs and relations, managed care marketing, medical education, clinical trial recruitment, market research and analytics, and strategic consulting.

Said Mr. Giegerich, "This couldn't be a more perfect union. CommonHealth has collaborated extensively with Ogilvy Healthworld for the past fifteen years and we have an enormous amount of trust in the talent, leadership and capabilities of this considerable network. By combining our two organizations — and the remarkable collective talent pool within — we can now offer clients all the communications resources necessary to create and grow powerful, unified global brands in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment."

Miles Young, Global CEO of Ogilvy & Mather, said, "We are very proud to welcome the CommonHealth family into the Ogilvy Network. The two brands are both consistent and complementary. The healthcare business is undergoing a seismic shift as clients seek greater efficiency and effectiveness for agency alignments. The scale this venture brings us will be a powerful catalyst to this change, and will give clients access, innovation and creativity, in depth, around the world."

Moving forward, the group will operate under the Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide umbrella, but maintain individual Ogilvy CommonHealth and Ogilvy Healthworld brand identities in some markets. An executive council, comprised of leadership from both organizations, will oversee all day-to-day operations, reporting to Mr. Giegerich.

Ogilvy Healthworld

Ogilvy Healthworld is a leading global healthcare communications network with 53 offices in 33 countries. Part of the Ogilvy & Mather network, a WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY, www.wpp.com) company, Ogilvy Healthworld provides 360 Degree marketing services including Advertising, Public Relations, Direct-to-Consumer, Direct-to-Patient, Relationship Marketing, Medical Education, Brand Development, Clinical Trial Recruitment and Global Integration.

CommonHealth

CommonHealth (www.commonhealth.com), one of the world's leading healthcare-communications networks, is a WPP (NASDAQ/ADR: WPPGY; www.wpp.com) company. CommonHealth companies span the spectrum from professional- and consumer-advertising agencies to firms specializing in relationship marketing and medical education. Beyond these disciplines, CommonHealth offers clients specialized expertise in global marketing, research-based consulting, media planning and buying, managed care marketing, brand identity and design, and the latest in interactive technologies.

WPP

WPP is a world leader in communication services. Through its operating companies, the Group provides a comprehensive range of advertising and marketing services including advertising; media investment management; information, insight and consultancy; public relations and public affairs; branding and identity; healthcare communications; direct, digital, promotion and relationship marketing. The company employs 135,000 people (including associates) in 2,400 offices in 107 countries. For more information, visit www.wpp.com.

SOURCE Ogilvy & Mather