Decade of Growth Spurs Reorganization at AbelsonTaylor

CHICAGO, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Triple-digit growth and a greatly expanded range of services have fueled a major restructuring at AbelsonTaylor, the world's largest independent healthcare agency and the winner of more advertising awards than most clients can count.

The change, which divides one position into two, moves Nancy Drescher into the role of Senior Vice President, Director of Client Services, where she will be managing the entire account staff and supervising the work on all brands at the agency. Jay Carter, whose previous portfolio included client services, will assume the mantle of Senior Vice President, Director of Strategy Services. He will be responsible for strategic development and will provide consulting services to clients. Drescher and Carter will both report to Dale Taylor, president and CEO of the agency.

"The job got too big for one person," Taylor said, explaining that the agency's staff had grown from 108 employees in 1998, when Carter became Director of Client Services, to 400 today. At the same time, he added, clients have become more demanding. "Companies are eager to stretch their advertising dollars. To do that, they need effective strategies and really targeted campaigns."

For Drescher—who joined AbelsonTaylor in 1998—the promotion is a welcome opportunity to apply the lessons learned in management at other agencies. "Growth can be a major challenge," she said, adding that she planned to promote an open communications system, allowing employees to feel connected to each other and to understand their role in the agency as a whole.

Her 20-year career includes senior roles at a number of agencies, including Cline Davis Mann, where, as Executive Vice President, she was responsible for the U.S. and Global Lipitor business. She also spent two years on the client side, learning first hand about medical marketing by working as a pharmaceutical sales rep at Organon.

A native of New York, she arrived in Chicago in 1998 and joined AbelsonTaylor for two years, during which time she was responsible for the launch of ACTOS, a blockbuster diabetes brand.  She left to join her husband, who was completing his medical studies at NYU. Today he is an emergency medicine physician at the 120-year-old Swedish Covenant Hospital in Northwest Chicago.  

In 2006, Drescher rejoined AbelsonTaylor as Vice President, Account Director. Since then, her responsibilities have grown. Now a shareholder in the company, she will continue to lead her current accounts. In addition to managing a staff of 172 employees directly involved in brand work, she will head up a number of support departments, including traffic, clinical information services, proofreading and media buying.  

"The job of managing the account staff is one that demands exceptional organizational skills, deep agency management experience, the respect of one's peers and—ideally—experience with the way other agencies function," Taylor said, in making the public announcement today. "Nancy fits the bill."  

Drescher, who graduated summa cum laude from Seton Hall University, was Valedictorian of her class. She majored in advertising art and minored in biology.  

Founded nearly thirty years ago, AbelsonTaylor is the largest independent healthcare agency in the world. During the past 10 years, its staff has quadrupled to more than 400 employees. The agency currently has a roster of 49 accounts, including some of the most powerful brands in history. AbelsonTaylor is located at 33 West Monroe, Suite 600, Chicago, Ill. 60603. Phone: 312.894.5500. Fax: 312.894.5658, email: [email protected], website: www.AbelsonTaylor.com.

SOURCE AbelsonTaylor