Centron: 2021

Centron

32 Old Slip, 32nd Floor

New York, NY 10005

Telephone 

646-722-8900

E-mail 

[email protected]

Website 

centronnyc.com

 

QUICK FACTS

Accounts

Account wins 1

Active business clients 5

Brands by 2020 sales

Brand-product accounts held 5

$25 million or less 5

Products not yet approved/launched 3

 

SERVICES MIX

Rare disease/oncology/specialty 100%

HCP 60%

Patients/caregivers 40%

 

CLIENT ROSTER

Apellis

Bristol Myers Squibb

Karyopharm

Ovid Therapeutics

Partner Therapeutics

 

With a thriving culture, continued growth trajectory, and an abundance of creative and launch opportunities, the Centron team entered 2020 with momentum, optimism, and clarity for the path ahead.

And then, COVID-19.

“We were facing this inconceivable reality, just like the rest of the world,” says President Celine Vita. “Our first priority was our people: understanding their challenges, how they were adjusting, and ensuring they felt supported in the transition to a remote environment. We also knew we had to help them stay focused, embrace creative solutions, and continue to deliver exceptional work for our clients – all while collectively adjusting to new ways of working. As always, we found the path forward through the lens of simplicity and openness.”

Vita says, “Our goal was – and is – to empower every person to own their time, focus their energy on activities that truly matter, and leave the non-essential behind. We encouraged teams to define how they wanted to work together and protect time for connectivity, learning, and inspiration.”

With a continued emphasis on simplicity and core values, agency culture continued to thrive in the remote environment. Within the first week, an employee-generated newsletter became a highly anticipated weekly favorite at the agency, Centron leaders say. Long-established activities, such as Coffee Club and Rise and Thrives, continued without interruption on Zoom. “2020 put all dimensions of our agency – culture, collaboration, work – to the test,” Vita says. “I am humbled how we came together to support one another and to deliver against our agency and client goals. We may have been physically apart but we have never been stronger as a collective.” 

RECENT ACCMPLISHMENTS

In 2020, agency leaders say Centron achieved 45 percent growth over the previous year, driven by key clients such as Apellis, a new indication launch for Karyopharm, and new business wins including Ovid Therapeutics. The agency was also honored to be recognized as Agency on the Rise at the 2020 Manny Awards.

Chief Creative Officer Carolyn O’Neill notes that the agency grew in more ways than they could have ever anticipated. “Last March, we had just started planning production of a new creative campaign. We embraced experimentation, engaged new partners, and, together with our clients, found a new path forward to realize our vision.” The campaign employed leading-edge technology, creating a unique and rewarding experience for the team.

The campaign was just one of many firsts for the agency in 2020. “Nothing was business as usual for us or our clients,” O’Neill says. “In finding new ways to produce content, we’ve leaned into the constraints and created work with a deeper level of realism and authenticity. We even had a partner develop an offering entirely around a solution we created together for a shoot. We have thrived by finding inspiration and opportunity in the unexpected.” 

STRUCTURE AND SERVICES

In 2020, Centron augmented its full-service offering by continuing to build capabilities in the strategic and technical groups. “Senior VP, Channel Strategist Lisa Feher was an influential addition to the agency in 2020,” says Chief Strategy and Growth Officer Meredith Pugh. “Our promise is to help clients identify and invest in the essential, high-impact activities that will move their business forward. Channel strategy is a critical part of that equation.” 

Another notable hire was VP, Tech Lead Megan Burleyson. “We aren’t just looking for our tech department to facilitate digital development. We are excited by the possibilities of co-creation within the agency and partnership with other companies that are innovating in the new world context,” Pugh says. 

O’Neill adds, “We have long admired Megan’s creative spirit and ‘not if but how’ approach to building ideas. At a time when technology is more important than ever, we were thrilled to have Megan join the agency.”

With the onboarding of new business and talent, Centron also had significant increases in bench strength across all departments. “We believe that an agency is experienced through its people, and couldn’t be more thrilled to be growing with some of the most accomplished and passionate talent in the industry,” Vita says. 

“We recognized the need to take onboarding to the next level and considered every aspect of the early experience. In total, we onboarded 16 new employees who have become deeply connected to each other and our agency. Our teams have found their groove and accomplished great things – even though some people have never physically been in a room together!”

FUTURE PLANS

Looking forward, Centron leaders say the agency is embracing this dynamic moment in the industry. “The old blueprints no longer apply,” O’Neill says. “We are at a moment of reinvention where we can help shape how brands engage with customers and patients moving forward.” 

Vita adds, “We know what we want to do as a collective and plan to continue expanding our footprint with clients in our ‘sweet spot’ who seek the highest level of strategic and creative partnership from their agency. We are open to all that 2021 will bring, embracing experimentation and continuing to find success through the lens of simplicity.”

PHILANTHROPY/CITIZENSHIP

Above all, 2020 was a year of reflection and gratitude at Centron. “While we were fortunate to have a sense of normalcy and business continuity, we were all impacted by the realities of economic, social, and health disparities and injustice” Vita says. “Our agency commitment to the ‘highest good’ took on a whole new meaning and was felt more deeply than ever.”

Authentic, open dialogue around societal and racial issues was encouraged at the agency. “Social posts and declarations are easy,” Vita says. “We wanted to earn our words, honor our commitments, and take meaningful and sustainable actions toward change. We took time to understand and reflect where we stood as an agency, established agency-wide foundational knowledge of unconscious bias in the workplace, and activated the first DEI team at Centron. This team of passionate and dedicated individuals are informing and shaping our commitments into 2021 and beyond.” 

At the end of 2020, every employee had the opportunity to make a “Holiday Highest Good” contribution to a charitable organization committed to a cause that was important or relevant to them: civil rights, community food banks, homelessness, domestic violence, cancer screening and care, or animal rescue.

In 2021, the agency’s continued commitment to serving patient communities is extending to strategic and creative support of Diana’s Fibroid Foundation, a non-profit organization advancing education and research of the potential for rare malignancies associated with uterine fibroids.