Ogilvy has appointed Kate Cronin to a global role as CEO of Ogilvy Health, effective immediately.
In the role, Cronin will be responsible for driving all aspects of Ogilvy Health’s global growth, overseeing core capabilities including advertising, brand strategy, consumer/patient engagement, healthcare professional promotion, medical education, PR and influence. She will serve as a member of Ogilvy’s global leadership team.
The move marks the first leadership appointment by Andy Main since succeeding John Seifert as Ogilvy’s global CEO in July.
“Kate is a widely respected industry leader who sees the unique opportunity we have to use Ogilvy’s creativity and global reach to grow and transform not only brands, but entire businesses in the health sector and beyond,” Main said in a statement. “I’m confident that her extensive health experience, focus on client partnership and mentorship of talent will elevate our work, challenge conventional thinking and deliver the giant ideas our clients need to create giant value for their business, consumers and society.”
A 16-year agency veteran, Cronin was promoted from her previous role as co-president of Ogilvy Health’s U.S. operations. She has previously held leadership roles, including heading the global healthcare practice for Ogilvy Public Relations and leading its New York office. Cronin is a co-founder of Ogilvy’s Women’s Leadership Professional Network and has also contributed to multiple WPP women leadership initiatives.
“There is no better time to work in health and I’m excited about the many ways Ogilvy Health can partner with clients to help them solve for a range of unmet needs we are seeing in the marketplace,” Cronin said in a statement. “The heart of Ogilvy is creativity and there is no better place to get creative than in health where we can develop big ideas that promote life-saving therapies and motivate consumers to change behaviors to create a healthier society.”