GCI Health Appoints Wendy Lund as CEO

NEW YORK, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- GCI Health, a leading healthcare communications firm, announced today that it has appointed Wendy Lund as Chief Executive Officer, effective February 8, 2010. As CEO, Lund will set a strategic vision, oversee all operations across GCI Health's global network, and provide senior counsel to key clients.

Lund joins GCI Health from MS&L Worldwide where she was Executive Vice President, Global Business & Client Development, and a member of the Global Leadership Team. She also served as CEO of Publicis Consultants PR, a sister agency of MS&L. At MS&L, Lund played an instrumental leadership role in building and developing MS&L's Global Health practice around the world. For more than two decades, Lund has also directed communications programs for many of the most prominent companies in the pharmaceutical, medical device, patient advocacy, health system and consumer health industries.

Since 1986, GCI Health has earned a reputation as one of the foremost healthcare communications agencies, adept at the key elements of successful health communications, from crisis management and digital health strategy to high-science communications and ROI-generating product marketing.  

"We are entering a new decade and face unprecedented change in the health marketplace. GCI Health has the depth of expertise to provide a 'dream team' for each client – so critical in this environment – to propel action, build brands and achieve desired business results," said Lund.  "I share GCI Health's incredible passion for excellence, and look forward to a new decade of forging a transformational path for our clients."

During her career, Wendy has led pre-approval and launch programs for a variety of high profile drugs and medical devices in competitive and challenging categories, and has led award-winning national and globally recognized programs in health care marketing, advocacy development, health and disease awareness and prevention outreach. She also has deep experience in healthcare crisis communications and has counseled senior executives from corporations, not-for-profits and advocacy groups on reputation management, stakeholder relations, executive leadership and corporate responsibility.

Prior to joining MS&L, Wendy was Vice President of Marketing for Planned Parenthood Federation of America.  Additionally, she was Vice President of the Marketing Group at the National League for Nursing, managed a $33 million in-kind gift campaign for United Way, and has raised funds for several political campaigns.

GCI Health's leadership team also includes Jill Dosik who will continue in her role as President, reporting to Lund. Lund will report to Donna Imperato, CEO of Cohn & Wolfe Group. GCI Health is a Cohn & Wolfe Group company that operates independently in the U.S. and Europe.

"GCI Health has enjoyed tremendous success as an independent agency thanks to strong management, deep expertise, and a proven track record for handling clients' most difficult marketing challenges," said Donna Imperato, CEO of Cohn & Wolfe Group. "Wendy brings tremendous credentials to GCI Health as both a leader and a trusted advisor to clients and will be an enormous asset in driving the GCI Health brand worldwide."

About GCI Health

GCI Health is one of the world's largest healthcare public relations firms. It has offices throughout North America and Europe as well as affiliates around the world.  GCI Health is known for high-science expertise, crisis management, leading-edge digital health capabilities, and ROI-generating product marketing strategies. GCI Health is part of Cohn & Wolfe Group, a WPP company (Nasdaq: WPPGY), one of the world's largest communications services group.

About Cohn & Wolfe Group

Cohn & Wolfe Group includes Cohn & Wolfe, a premier global communications agency; GCI Health, a leading healthcare communications agency; and AxiCom, a global technology communications agency. Cohn & Wolfe is part of WPP (Nasdaq: WPPGY), one of the world's largest communications services group.

SOURCE Cohn & Wolfe Group