Weber Shandwick Acquires ReviveHealth; Unites Global Pharma Communications Expertise with Deep Health Services & Health Technology Capabilities

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Jan 07, 2016, 09:00 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Weber Shandwick, a wholly owned unit of Interpublic (NYSE: IPG) and one of the world's leading global communications and engagement firms, has acquired ReviveHealth, one of the industry's premier integrated marketing communications firms for health systems, health services and health technology in the United States. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Weber Shandwick is a global industry leader in healthcare communications with deep specialization in patient-centric strategies around complex health and treatment issues. The acquisition combines Weber Shandwick's global expertise in pharma, provider communications, scientific communications, and health public affairs with ReviveHealth's unrivaled specialization and focus on the business of healthcare, including health systems, health services, health technology, device and diagnostic companies, physician groups, and wellness and population health companies.

"We're extremely pleased to add another best-in-class firm that complements Weber Shandwick's integrated service offerings and that adds specialized expertise our clients are seeking," said Andy Polansky, CEO of Weber Shandwick.

Healthcare has been among Weber Shandwick's fastest growing practice areas.

"Combining Weber Shandwick's global expertise in pharma communications with ReviveHealth's expertise in navigating extremely complex B2B issues across all sectors in the healthcare delivery system creates a powerful consumer-and-business-facing healthcare offering for our clients," said Laura Schoen, president, Global Healthcare Practice and chair, Latin America, Weber Shandwick. "We saw a unique opportunity with ReviveHealth to combine capabilities and provide strategic, integrated communications that influence stakeholders at every point of the healthcare ecosystem."

ReviveHealth is headquartered in Nashville, the leading health services market in the U.S., and also has offices in Minneapolis and Santa Barbara. Roger Fischer of RF Consulting, LLC served as transaction advisor to ReviveHealth.

"The healthcare industry has been changing so fast in recent years, and our clients' needs continue to change, too," said Brandon Edwards, CEO of ReviveHealth. "Consolidations in the hospital health plan and pharmaceutical sectors are driving massive change in the industry, and the convergence of healthcare financing and healthcare delivery has accelerated since the Affordable Care Act became law. Bigger and more sophisticated healthcare companies require more sophisticated marketing communication strategies, combined with the expertise to navigate the intersection of regulation, business, mission and social change. Joining the Weber Shandwick family accelerates our agency transformation and brings capabilities into the mix that increase our value to our clients. Branding, digital strategy, content marketing, public affairs and other deep capabilities that Weber Shandwick has invested in will be hugely important to our current and future clients."

About Weber Shandwick

Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications and engagement firm in 78 cities across 34 countries and operations extending to 126 cities in 81 countries. The firm's diverse team of strategists, analysts, producers, designers, developers and campaign activators has won the most prestigious awards in the world for innovative, creative approaches and impactful work, including being honored as an Ad Age A-List Agency in 2014 and 2015, The Holmes Report's Global Agency of the Year in 2014 and 2015 and PRWeek's 2015 Global Agency of the Year. Weber Shandwick and its Prime unit have won a combined 25 Cannes Lions since 2009. Weber Shandwick was also named a Best Place to Work by Ad Age in 2014 and 2015 and PRWeek in 2013 and 2014. The firm deploys deep expertise across sectors and specialty areas, including consumer marketing, corporate reputation, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, corporate social responsibility, financial communications and crisis management, using proprietary social, digital and analytics methodologies. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com.

About ReviveHealth

ReviveHealth is the first purpose-built, integrated marketing communication firm for Health Systems, Health Services and Health Technology. The firm is the sixth largest healthcare agency in the country, representing some of the leading and largest brands in healthcare. Now on the shortlist for PRWeek's 2016 Small Agency of the Year, ReviveHealth's work and culture are perennially recognized by its peers, including: 2015 Small Agency of the Year finalist (PRWeek), 2014 Small Agency of the Year (PRWeek), 2013 Boutique PR Agency of the Year (PRWeek), 2014 Best Agency to Work For in America (The Holmes Report), Best Boutique Agency to Work For from 2011-2014 (The Holmes Report), and No. 1 on the 2015 Fast Movers list for US agencies (The Holmes Report). ReviveHealth has offices in Nashville, Minneapolis, and Santa Barbara, and can be found on the web at thinkrevivehealth.com and on Twitter @ThinkRevive.