The Bloc: 2017
The Bloc
32 Old Slip, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Telephone: 212-524-6200
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: thebloc.com
Accounts
Account wins 18
Active business clients 27
Brands by 2016 sales
Brand-product accounts held 107
$25 million or less 1
$25 million to $50 million 1
$50 million to $100 million 16
$100 million to $500 million 27
$500 million to $1 billion 16
$1 billion or more 26
Products yet to be approved/launched 28
Services Mix
Promotion and advertising 100%
By Audience* (most assignments begin by targeting HCP, but later target DTC, DTP and Managed Markets, which creates some overlap in audiences)
HCP* 72%
DTC/DTP* 34%
Managed Markets* 24%
By Media
Digital 50%
Off-Line 40%
CRM 10%
Client Roster
Acorda
Amarin
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
Basilea
Becton Dickinson
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer
Convatec
Genentech
HAP Innovations
Human Longevity
Merck
Mission Pharmacal
Montefiore Hospital System
Novartis
Otsuka
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Shire
WelchAllyn
2016 was a year of transformative change for The Bloc, according to agency management. “It was a year we articulated our new mission as a company and strengthened our global network,” executives say. “We expanded and deepened our business model and leadership team. We furthered our commitment to creative excellence while diversifying our client base within health and wellness. We are fired up and ready to go!”
Managers say The Bloc’s mission is fired by its “unmatched passion for health and wellness.”
“We strive to be a creative force that builds healthy change – scientists with creative flair and artists with a passion for science,” they say. “With deep roots in biopharma, we are inspired by the possibilities of innovation and technology as a means to connect with the healthcare continuum, ensuring access and empowering all. We are The Bloc: a group of people – and some dogs – committed to making a difference.”
The Year’s Accomplishments
During 2016, The Bloc’s 18 partner agencies “unanimously committed to reinforce our alliance and to grow together,” leadership says. “Rebranding from Indigenus and uniting as The Bloc Partners, we are in a stronger position to deliver the best of two worlds: consistent high-level performance and operational excellence across markets that is expected from a global holding company and our multilocal approach and entrepreneurial nimble spirit. As The Bloc Partners, we will access more of one another in terms of best practices, learnings, and resources, and it will offer increased opportunities for our 500+ people to gain international exposure.”
According to executives, in 2016 The Bloc added “groundbreaking” health technology companies in genomics, next-generation integrated delivery networks, and innovative device providers as clients. The agency says organic and new business growth was strong in 2016.
“In all, we won 18 new assignments across existing and new client partners through competitive pitches with a 70 percent plus win rate in the second half of 2016,” management notes. “Our partnerships expanded with AstraZeneca (consolidated payer assignments, professional AOR), Regeneron and Sanofi (digital AOR), Mission Pharmacal (professional AOR), Basilea (global AOR), and BMS (patient websites). New wins included Human Longevity Inc. (AOR across service offerings), Roche/Genentech (professional and digital AOR), Otsuka (AOR), Becton Dickinson (AOR for new service line), Amarin (US professional AOR), WelchAllyn (payer assignments), and Lilly (payer assignments). And 2017 is off to a terrific start with wins from AstraZeneca (new payer assignments) and Astellas (global/US oncology AOR).”
For the fourth year in a row, agency leaders say, “our creativity and innovation was unparalleled, and we brought home more than 70 awards across domestic and global forums.”
These awards included winning Gold for work in managed care at the 2016 Manny Awards and being named Agency of the Year at the Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards. “We are proud of the fact that we are driving exceptional quality across multiple clients, such as BioDelivery Sciences International, Regeneron, and Montefiore, collaborating to deliver groundbreaking ideas that impact business,” executives say.
Structure & Services
The Bloc is a leading health and wellness agency based in New York, according to management. The Bloc is also the founding partner of The Bloc Partners, an international network of independent healthcare agencies, which will celebrate its 14th anniversary in May 2017.
Agency services include branding, medical strategy, digital, mobile, CRM, channel planning, analytics, social, access, planning, consulting, adaptation, and global.
“Recognizing the objectives of our entrepreneurial clients, we launched BlocAlley, an agile, experienced team guiding these organizations to commercial success,” executives say. “Our core Bloc offering of strategic and creative innovation coupled with BlocSky (our service model that delivers greater efficiency for lower complexity projects across all channels) and Bloc Value Builders (our strategic team focused on advancing the Triple Aim of population health, net cost reduction, and patient experience) demonstrates our commitment to staying ahead of our clients’ diverse and emerging needs.”
In 2016, The Bloc added Katya Petrova as executive VP, managing director; Barbara LePetri, M.D., as senior VP, Medical Strategy; Antoinette Bobbitt as senior VP, Strategic Planning; and Lisa Schwartz as senior VP, Operations.
Future Plans
The Bloc leadership says it will continue to build the health agency of the future. “We are the Health Agency of the Future. What does this mean? We will combine our deep strategic and creative heritage with technology solutions that deliver compelling experiences across every conceivable platform,” managers say. “Our thought leaders will stay ahead of the curve and continue to set industry trends that others will follow. We will enhance our creative edge, attracting top talent across disciplines and clients. We will pilot new technologies and processes to improve workflow and enhance output. Above all, we will continuously strive to be the preferred partner for all of our clients.
Philanthropy/Citizenship
In 2016, The Bloc continued a long history of donations with $50,000 contributed to charities that the agency’s staff believes in and supports, such as Doctors Without Borders, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the National MS Society, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, American Diabetes Association, and the March of Dimes, among others.
“We launched the ‘Hearing Voices of Support’ website for our pro bono client, SARDAA (Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America),” executives say.
For the fourth time in five years, a team of six cyclists from the agency supported the Arthritis Foundation by riding 525 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles in eight days for the California Coast Classic Bike Tour.
“Among many other charitable initiatives, our favorite yet is The Bloc’s Brew Cart,” execs say. “Every Thursday, we team up with our HealthAwareNext ‘Year of Disease Awareness’ by contributing to a charitable organization that aligns with our monthly campaign. Our employees are encouraged to exhibit their spirited attitude and give back while enjoying a drink or two from the Brew Cart.”
