Healthcare agency Ward6 has announced the acquisition of McCann Health Australia, making the new entity arguably the leading healthcare communications group in the country.
The businesses will continue to act as separate companies/brands and will be firewalled to maintain client confidentiality.
Stuart Black, group CEO of Ward6 and McCann Health Australia, said: “Most agencies that start as independents in Australia sell out to one of the multinationals – we wanted to do the opposite.
“I’m incredibly proud of the leadership team at Ward6, and now we have an opportunity to grow the McCann Health Australia brand into an even stronger offering for our clients.
“We feel like this purchase allows us to do what we set out to achieve 10 years ago when we started the company: raise expectations in terms of what a healthcare agency can provide, both strategically and creatively.
“That is our mission, and as far as we’re concerned, we’re only just getting started.”
Graeme Read, president of McCann Health Asia Pacific, said: ‘This is a strategic decision to strengthen our agency and offer in Australia.
“The sole purpose is to build on our creative prowess and global connectivity with strong, local, entrepreneurial know-how and agility.
“It represents the best of both worlds and makes us stronger and smarter to the benefit of clients.
“The Australian agency will remain a vital affiliate in our global McCann Health network, recognising that this country is a key market for many of our global clients, and that locally-based clients value access to the tools, resources and global experience that McCann Health continues to have at its disposal.”
