Two Omnicom Health Group agencies will have new leadership as of January 1, 2018. Mario Muredda has been named CEO of Harrison and Star, and Kristin Kantak will be CEO of Biolumina.

Former Biolumina and Harrison and Star CEO Ty Curran has been named chairman of the agencies. In his role as chairman, Curran will serve in a consultative role to Kantak, and will take on special healthcare projects across Omnicom Health Group.

Muredda joined Harrison and Star in 2012 and has served as co-president of the agency since 2015. Before Harrison and Star, he served as senior VP at AgencyRx, VP and associate director of business development at Cline Davis & Mann, and VP, group director of scientific affairs at DazMedia.

Mario Muredda

“Mario has been instrumental in the growth we have seen at Harrison and Star, and I am proud to pass the baton to such a capable leader,” Curran says. “His expertise in translating hard science and data into emotion has helped to create blockbuster brands for our clients and grow our work across the portfolio. Meanwhile, his incredible talent management skills have helped to keep Harrison and Star’s strong culture and ‘talent first’ approach intact through a period of record-breaking growth.”

Mardene Miller, formerly co-president alongside Muredda, will serve as president. The two will continue to collaborate closely. Muredda will report to Ed Wise, CEO of Omnicom Health Group.

“I’m pleased to recognize Mario’s contributions to Harrison and Star through his promotion to CEO,” Wise says. “He is a testament to the great talent we are growing at our agencies, and I look forward to seeing how Harrison and Star continue to evolve its offerings to meet our clients’ needs in this rapidly changing healthcare landscape.”

Kirsten Kantak

Most recently, Kantak served as president of Biolumina. She was promoted to president in 2015. Prior to Biolumina, Kantak was at Harrison and Star for 13 years, most recently as senior vice president, global managing director.

“Kirsten helped take Biolumina into the future, cementing it as a fierce competitor in the healthcare space,” Curran says. “She accomplished this through tremendous new business growth as well as a significant focus on culture. I have no doubt the agency will continue to thrive under Kirsten’s strong leadership.”

Kantak will also report to Wise. “Kirsten’s talent-first approach and passion for delivering superior work for clients will take Biolumina to the next stage in its evolution,” Wise says. “I look forward to continuing to watch the agency’s upward trajectory.”

Ty Curran

Curran will report to Dale Adams, chairman and CEO, the DAS Group of Companies. “Ty’s leadership took Biolumina on a strong growth path, and he will continue to provide valuable strategic counsel and guidance in his role as chairman,” Adams says.