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Indigenus announces new leadership team at the global network's biannual forum

TOKYO, May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Indigenus, the largest independent global network of entrepreneurial healthcare creative agencies, announced the election of Rico Viray as Chairman and Florian Bernsdorf as Co-Chairman at the global network's biannual forum. Mr. Viray and Mr. Bernsdorf take leadership of a network that provides pharmaceutical and healthcare companies with innovative multichannel global branding, advertising, medical education, and medical communications.

Rico Viray has held his position as Chairman since the consolidation of the Indigenus LLC in 2010. Mr. Viray is also a founding partner of The CementBloc, a multichannel healthwellness creative agency based in New York, which is the second-largest independent healthcare agency in the US. His newly elected European counterpart, Florian Bernsdorf, is the managing partner of Serviceplan Health & Life in Munich. Over the last 13 years, Mr. Bernsdorf has built Serviceplan Health & Life into one of the preeminent healthcare advertising agencies in Germany.

"I am delighted to take on this new role," said Mr. Bernsdorf. "With leading agencies in every key market, and our Worldsourcing Initiative (WIN) primed to deliver economic value, we are anticipating extensive growth in the coming year."

Expansion planned, with the credentialing of potential partners from China and Australasia

Indigenus forums take place twice a year, and are hosted in turn by Indigenus partner agencies. PharMa International, the network's Tokyo-based affiliate, is the first to host an Indigenus forum in Asia. "Indigenus has always been about bringing together the freshest thinking from the best minds in the business, across each of the key markets. There is a shared culture that celebrates collaboration, creativity, and innovation, and these biannual forums provide an essential melting pot," commented Rico Viray.

Indigenus partners from 9 markets and 2 new potential partner agencies traveled to Japan for the meeting, which took place over 4 days in Tokyo and Kyoto. In addition to electing senior officers, Indigenus partners also evaluated potential partners from China, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Agreements are now being formalized, an expansion that gives Indigenus leading agency partners in all major and emerging markets.

The next Indigenus forum will take place in October in Italy, hosted by local partner agency, thenewway.

Indigenus Global Network
Indigenus is the largest independent global network of entrepreneurial healthcare creative agencies. Indigenus was formed in 2004, and became an agency-owned LLC in 2011. The network provides 100% global coverage, with 13 agencies serving major and emerging markets: The CementBloc (USA), PAN Advertising Limited (UK), umbilical (Spain), Strategik & Numerik (France), Serviceplan Health & Life (Germany), thenewway (Italy), g Healthcare (Turkey), Marketing Latino (Mexico), Sorento Healthcare Communications (India), PharMa International Inc (Japan), Thanks Comunicacao (Brazil), Lindh & Partners (Sweden), and Mico Publicidad (Argentina). Indigenus is currently credentialing potential agency partners in China, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Secondary markets are served by the Worldsourcing Initiative (WIN), which centralizes rollout to drive brand consistency and cost-efficiency. Visit www.indigenus.net to learn more.