NEW YORK, April 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Palio+Ignite, an inVentiv Health communications agency known for creating compelling healthcare brands, announced today the appointment of Kim Johnson as President.

Johnson will chart the next phase of Palio+Ignite's evolution, expanding the services it provides in medical, consumer, and managed markets communications, supported by innovative technologies.  She'll lead the agency's three offices in New York City, New York, Saratoga Springs, New York, and Irvine, California.

For nearly two decades, Johnson has worked with some of the world's biggest and most well-respected pharmaceutical companies, including Novartis, Pfizer, and Merck.  She has deep professional, consumer, and digital marketing expertise, and a proven record of consistent double-digit business growth.

"Kim's results-driven approach to marketing and her vast experience make her ideally suited to lead Palio+Ignite," said Michael Griffith, Executive Vice President of inVentiv Health. "Her knowledge across the product lifecycle and commitment to innovative technology will optimize commercial success for our clients' pharmaceutical brands."

Prior to joining Palio+Ignite, Johnson was a partner at The CementBloc, where she oversaw numerous agency operations and was a driving force in transforming the organization from a traditional advertising agency to a full-service, integrated communications agency.  She was responsible for significant new business growth and established the agency's consumer and digital practices.  Among her clients were Vertex, GlaxoSmithKline, and Johnson & Johnson.

Before The CementBloc, Johnson was at Pfizer, where she led the strategic direction, alignment, and prioritization of patient marketing for U.S. Celebrex.  She also has held senior positions at businesses within Omnicom and Y&R.

"Palio+Ignite has tremendous equity in the marketplace," Johnson said. "With a deep bench of medical strategists, innovative REMS and managed markets expertise, as well as proven technology capabilities, the agency is a creative healthcare powerhouse."

Guy Mastrion, chief global creative officer and Palio+Ignite founder, said that Johnson is known for building talented, winning teams and for winning leading clients. "It's an exciting time at Palio+Ignite, and we're thrilled to have her on board.

"Kim shares our vision of owning the 'moment,' which means reaching patients and physicians at the moment when it matters most," he said.

As part of inVentiv Health, Palio+Ignite has access to comprehensive commercialization services that are unmatched in the industry. Services such as patient outcomes and selling solutions offer clients a significant competitive advantage.   

Johnson will be based in Palio+Ignite's New York City office. She has a B.S. in marketing from Babson College and holds an adjunct professorship at New York University.

About Palio+Ignite
Palio+Ignite is a full-service agency that enables healthcare and pharmaceutical companies to reach and engage audiences through the power of communications. The agency is a creative force within the marketplace and brings differentiating strengths to the table: medical strategy, REMS, managed markets, market research, social marketing, health gaming and animation, brand strategy, insight and analytics, global outreach, digital communications and interactive development, mobile health, and emerging technologies. Together, we have the ability to provide clients with a heightened level of synergy and engagement through ideas and innovation. Palio+Ignite is part of inVentiv Health Communications (iHC), the inVentiv Health Division dedicated to delivering exceptional, global, multichannel communications to organizations focused on health and wellness. For more information visit palioignite.com.

About inVentiv Health
inVentiv Health, Inc. is a life science knowledge and services company purpose-built for the new healthcare marketplace. inVentiv has created a new model by converging a vast range of essential services to fully align with our client's development and commercialization goals. With more than 12,000 employees supporting clients in 70 countries, our global scale and broad expertise make us an attractive strategic partner for companies seeking to get medicines to patients in a complex operating, regulatory and reimbursement environment. inVentiv Health's clients include more than 550 life sciences companies, including all 20 of the largest biopharmaceutical companies in the world. inVentiv Health, Inc. is privately owned by inVentiv Group Holdings, Inc., an organization sponsored by affiliates of Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., Liberty Lane Partners and members of the inVentiv management team. inVentiv Health transforms promising ideas into commercial reality for the financial success of our clients and the delivery of better treatments to patients worldwide. For more information, visit www.inVentivHealth.com

Contact:
Lori Goodale
Palio+Ignite
+1 518 226 4126
lgoodale@palioignite.com

SOURCE inVentiv Health, Inc.