McCann Echo: 2016
McCann Echo
49 Bloomfield Ave.
Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046
Phone: 973-257-3900
Facsimile: 973-257-4316
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: mccannecho.com
Accounts
Account wins 10
Account losses 1
Active business clients 10
Brands by 2015 sales
Brand-product accounts held 41
Services Mix
Professional 75%
DTP 25%
Client Roster
Abbott
Boehringer Ingelheim
Eisai
Galderma Laboratories
Icon Bioscience
Janssen
Novo Nordisk
Teva Pharmaceuticals
ViiV Healthcare
For McCann Echo, Executive Creative Director Juan Ramos and Managing Dirctor Tracy Blackwell figured out early on that the best ideas come from cooperative ecosystems, not competitive ones. They applied their philosophy from day one, and they work hard to ensure it holds true today, agency leaders say.
That philosophy has led to the first-ever Cannes Lion for McCann Health, awarded last summer for the campaign for Soolantra. “It was an honor for the Soolantra team, but it was huge for the agency, too,” says Art Supervisor Steve Juliano. “Everyone was a part of it.”
Preserving that culture has always been a priority, executives say. After another year of significant organic growth and a massive win that will bring Janssen’s immunology portfolio to McCann Echo and other McCann agencies, culture and creativity remain a driving force.
Melinda Milovic, copy supervisor and long-time McCann Echo employee, described what makes the culture so special. “It’s organic,” she says. “The agency leaders do a great job allowing the culture to evolve with the agency. It’s just part of who we are.”
The year’s accomplishments
Agency leaders say McCann Echo grew by 21 percent in 2015, achieving double-digit growth for a remarkable third year in a row. The Janssen win brings that company’s immunology franchise to the agency, along with Simponi Aria, Simponi 50, Simponi 100, and Remicade.
“Last year was defined by awards,” says Sonja Foster-Storch, president of McCann Echo. “We pride ourselves on doing world-class work for our clients. The recognition we received in 2015 proved we’re accomplishing just that.”
Soolantra brought home more than its prestigious Lion, executives say. The “tough topical” kicked off the year by winning Best Professional Campaign at the 2015 Manny Awards, then went on to net 23 additional industry awards, including the first-ever Titanium Award for Best in Show from MM&M. In total, McCann Echo enjoyed 37 wins across several brands, reflecting a banner year at the agency, according to leaders.
McCann Echo again had a productive year with Galderma Laboratories LP, one of the agency’s longest-standing clients. In addition to the breakout year for the rosacea treatment Soolantra, Galderma’s flagship acne brand, Epiduo, continues to enjoy significant growth, despite approaching its eighth year on the market. The year was topped off with the successful launch of Epiduo Forte, executives say.
One of the agency’s newer clients, Abbott Vascular, quickly expanded its presence within McCann Echo by awarding the agency the global AOR business for HCPs for Absorb, the bioresorbable vascular scaffold. This mirrors the initial patient assignment for the product, according to executives.
McCann Echo had a busy year with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. in preparing for the launch of the company’s extended-release hydrocodone product with abuse deterrence technology, executives say. Additionally, McCann Echo expanded this partnership by securing an immediate-release hydrocodone with acetaminophen, also with abuse deterrence. The portfolio includes print, digital, HCP, and patient assignments. “Not only do we have opportunities to bring great creative to each brand, but we now also have the opportunity to bring value at the franchise level to Teva’s Pain Care Division,” says Kristy Caraballo, who was recently promoted to executive VP, managing director,
Eisai Co. Ltd. continued to work with McCann Echo to find strategic and creative ways to educate the marketplace about obesity and promote Belviq to HCP and patient audiences, executives say.
Agency leaders say McCann Echo continued to grow its strong partnership with Novo Nordisk. In addition to continuing work on the aspart franchise and Levemir, the agency prepared for the launch of Tresiba. McCann Echo was also named AOR for upcoming Xultophy and has taken on the HCP and sales training components of Cornerstones4Care. Also, McCann Echo will continue to assist Novo Nordisk on their strategic project focused on Changing Diabetes.
Additionally, 2015 mared the sixth year of collaboration between McCann Echo and ViiV Healthcare. McCann Echo promotes the highly successful HIV therapies Tivicay and Triumeq in the United States and globally. In just U.S. markets, McCann Echo continues its long-standing work on Selzentry and Epzicom. “We are honored to work with ViiV,” said Charlene Leitner, executive VP, managing director. “Their quest to bring new medications to the fight against HIV continues to inspire us.”
Structure and services offered
Agency leaders say standing behind McCann Echo at all times is the world’s largest global agency network – McCann Health. “We retain a small agency feel,” Blackwell says. “But in reality, we’re completely integrated with the larger McCann family – from McCann Managed Markets to McCann Worldgroup. We have the best of both worlds.”
Amar Urhekar, president of the Americas for McCann Health, agrees. “Our vision is to bring the McCann Health Platform – a day in the lab to a day in the life – in an integrated and seamless manner to our clients in North America. McCann Echo has continued to lead by example by bringing in newer ideas and initiatives and closely partnering with other McCann Health and McCann Worldgroup agencies. I am truly proud of the year they had and 2016 will be even better!”
Within McCann Echo, the cast of characters includes the most creative account, strategic planning, and medical teams in the business, agency leaders contend. “We set the bar pretty high,” says Jesse Johanson, executive VP, director of strategic planning. “Creative solutions aren’t expected from just art and copy; they’re expected from everyone.”
Future plans
“World domination!” joked Foster-Storch. “Aside from that, we want to expand upon what we’re currently doing. We’re proud to work in our clients business, not just on their business. That mentality has brought us far, and we’re not going to back off now.”
Philanthropy/citizenship
The agency supports a wide range of charities, executives say. “The list has grown,” according to Jean Shea, administrative supervisor. “But the variety is nice. It gives everyone a chance to get involved in a way that’s meaningful to them.” McCann Echo supports Camp Nejeda, a camp for children and teens with type 1 diabetes, New Jersey AIDS Services, and Mind Builders, which helps fund a community arts and education center in the Bronx.
“And of course, every year we have our holiday traditions,” Shea says. They include giving clients an opportunity to help underfunded schools through DonorsChoose.org, as well as creating and selling internal cards that raise funds for local charities chosen by employees.
“I love it,” says Neil Tenzer, UX architect. “It’s part of what makes us McCann Echo.”
