Indigenus Network LLC: 2016

Indigenus Network LLC

32 Old Slip, 32nd Floor

New York, NY 10005

Phone: 212-524-6200

Website: indigenus.net

Indigenus is the largest global network of independent “healthwellness” communication agencies, delivering full-service strategic, creative, and multichannel services to global and local clients worldwide, executives say.

“The Indigenus model was built over a decade ago by healthcare communications experts who foresaw the need to be truly nimble for an ever-changing global business world while leveraging robust local knowledge,” says Mariana Sanchez de Ovando, senior VP, global executive director of Indigenus. “Today, we continue to help multinational clients succeed globally and locally.”

Executives say Indigenus is dedicated to helping clients get “unstuck.”

“We have a unique flexible business model that allows us to adapt and adjust to our global and local client needs,” executives say. “Our multilocal approach delivers innovative global ideas that are locally relevant across customer types and gains local buy-in. Indigenus builds brands and relationships that grow the business and move customers to action.”

The year’s accomplishments

In 2015, Indigenus conducted a global study of millennial doctors around the world. The study focused on the influential characteristics of practicing doctors under 35 years old: their approach to patient care, their use of technology in their profession, their view of their careers, and their perceptions and beliefs about the pharmaceutical industry. In June, Indigenus presented the findings at the second annual Cannes Lions Health Festival. The session, “Paging Dr Millennial: Rethinking Healthcare Communication for Next-Generation Physicians,” was co-hosted by de Ovando and Lucien Engelen, director of Reshape Center for Innovation at Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands. The session presented the key findings of the trend study and explored how these trends will intersect with the technological innovations foreseen in healthcare. In 2016, Indigenus agencies are leveraging their findings to help clients understand how to communicate with these doctors today and in the future, executives say.

Indigenus was also represented at Cannes Lions Health in 2015 through its US agency, The Bloc. The Bloc’s Partner and Creative Director Elizabeth Elfenbein, along with Loreen Babcock of Montefiore Medical Center, a client of The Bloc, presented “Caregivers Speak Up,” which discussed the role of the caregiver in healthcare and how best to communicate with them. The presentation is part of an initiative dedicated to giving a voice to caregivers, an overlooked yet vital player in today’s healthcare system, executives say.

Articles about both initiatives presented at Cannes Lions Health, along with other thought leadership pieces from Indigenus leaders, were published in the biannual IF Magazine.

The most notable accomplishments for the network in 2015 included being selected for the global creative roster of a top pharma company, as the global AOR for newly approved product from Basilea, and for the local launch of a Bristol-Myers Squibb immunotherapy product in four priority markets.

In 2015, executives say Indigenus companies collectively won over 100 industry and creative awards, including six Clio Healthcare Awards, five Creative Floor Awards, three RX Club Awards, and two IPA Best of Health Awards.

For the second year in a row, Indigenus had a member on the Cannes Lions Health Jury, Xavier Sánchez from Spain. Elfenbein served on the executive jury of the Clios and Global Awards. Among The Global Awards executive jury was Morihiko Seki from Japan The Grand Jury included Stephanie Berman and Sharon Howard-Butler of New York, Yash Rege of India, Mike Babich of New Zealand, and Gerrard Malcolm of Australia. Mike Rogers of Germany served as jury president of the first healthcare category of Eurobest 2015.

Structure and services

More than a collection of agencies dotting the map, Indigenus delivers proven collaboration across national boundaries that results in 100 percent global solutions, network leaders say; all companies in the network rank in the top five in their local markets, and new partners undergo a rigorous selection process in which the philosophy and quality of each are carefully considered.

According to network leaders, Indigenus is a tight, unified, and streamlined organization. A dedicated global business team leads the network’s strategic and business development efforts and coordinates activities across multiple markets, driving efficiencies and providing global client teams with a centralized view of all brand efforts worldwide, executives say.

Indigenus is incorporated as an LLC, with 16 top-ranking communication companies in key major and emerging markets maximizing success for growth brands, network leaders say. Agencies are The Bloc in the United States; CPC Healthcare Communications in Canada; Marketing Latino in Mexico; Thanks in Brazil; gHealthcare in Turkey; HealthWay in Eastern Europe; Lindh & Partners in Scandinavia; Life Healthcare Communications in the UK and Ireland; Serviceplan Health & Life in Germany; Strategik & Numerik in France; thenewway in Italy; and umbilical in Spain.

In Asia are PharMa International in Japan and Sorento Healthcare Communications in India; and in Oceania, Insight in Australia and New Zealand.

“For secondary markets, mature brands, and local adaptations, we have set up IndigenusSky, a global transcreation center that provides unmatched efficiency and cost-effectiveness,” executives say.

Future plans

According to leadership, in 2016, Indigenus plans to remain competitive in the multinational network category for new business and creative reputation. The network will leverage its trend study on Dr. Millennials, publish two editions of IF Magazine, and expand business within the network.

Philanthropy/citizenship

In 2015, Indigenus agencies continued their involvement in charity work at a local level. CPC provided marketing and advertising services free of charge to the Young Carers Program, which supports children and teens who act as a primary caregiver for a sibling, parent, or grandparent. Serviceplan continued its work with the Association of Children’s Hospices in Germany by creating a radio spot called “Dead Air” to draw attention to a helpline set up to support and provide answers to families with terminally ill children. Donations to the German Association of Children’s Hospices tripled immediately after the radio spot aired. Life Healthcare Communications created a disease awareness video for the Epilepsy Society, encouraging patients to have an annual therapy review. Additionally, Umbilical designed the creative campaign and graphic materials for the first Breast Cancer Open Day, which focused on improving the quality of life for women who are affected by breast cancer.