Propel Health Communications: 2024

Propel Health Communications

190 Main Street, Gladstone, NJ 07932

201-755-1501 • [email protected] • propelhealthforward.com

 

Quick facts

Accounts

• Account wins: 4
• Active business clients: 14

Brands by 2023 sales

• Brand-product accounts held: 14
• $50 million-$100 million: 4
• $100 million-$500 millio:n 6
• $500 million-$1 billion: 1
• Products not yet approved/launched: 3

Services mix

• Promotional DTP/DTC: 35%
• Promotional HCP: 30%
• Promotional medical education/peer-to-peer: 25%
• Medical affairs: 5%
• Social media: 5%
  

Client roster

• Acadia
• AstraZeneca
• Bristol Myers Squibb
• EMD Serono
• KalVista
• Marinus
• Mersana
• Mirati
• Ovid
• Takeda
• Vericel

“Forward. That is the rallying cry at the newly minted Propel Health Communications,” agency leaders declare. 

These executives say since Propel Health’s official launch in November 2023, the promotional and med ed communications agency has seen increasing momentum on every level: business growth, creative opportunities, and above all, the people and culture.

“In the first few months of our launch, we not only realized immediate business growth but set ourselves up for a highly successful 2024,” says Lew Campanaro, co-managing director, client services and growth, adding that “it turns out that the sum was much greater than the individual parts.” Campanaro is referring to the agency’s inception through the merger of two independent agencies within the Propel Health Network.

“When you think of a merger, change management and some challenging adjustments come to mind,” says Carolyn O’Neill, co-managing director, creative and delivery. “We somehow did not have to navigate that path. A combination of a shared network culture, our incredible people and talent, and a true sense of excitement and possibilities has organically fueled what is becoming an authentic and unique agency culture.”

Recent accomplishments

In paving the way for the agency’s current growth trajectory, O’Neill and Campanaro emphasize that they are leading by one of their core values – integrity – and putting their people and current clients first. “A few decades in this industry have made it very clear to me that when you put people and relationships first, whether your talent or clients, the best work and the best outcomes follow,” O’Neill says. “We are committed to scaling thoughtfully so that we can live by this commitment.” As a testament to this approach, the leaders say that they have had multiple “boomerang” talent returns to the agency as well as previous client relationships return as they move into new roles.

O’Neill and Campanaro also recognize that the decision to go fully remote has yielded better- than-expected outcomes.

“We listened to our people,” Campanaro says. “They did not want a hybrid experience. I think it’s clear from anecdotes within the industry as well as in the media that there is a hybrid malaise. Instead, we’re sourcing the best talent, wherever they may reside, and creating meaningful opportunities for in-person engagements that really matter. This has become a major competitive advantage for us.”

Structure and services

Propel Health Communications remains focused on rare disease, oncology, and specialty brands and communities. “We have deep expertise in these areas, which has only augmented with the synergy of people, roles, and offerings,” O’Neill says. “We are excited to offer a truly integrated, performance-led approach to customer engagement and relationship building with exceptional delivery at the core.”

O’Neill notes that “the terms promo and med ed don’t adequately cover the end-to-end solution that we’re providing clients. As a snapshot of our current client engagements, we are working upstream in pre-commercial strategy, med affairs, and advocacy engagement. We are supporting brands in their launch and immediate post-launch phases. We are driving peer-to-peer strategy and innovative engagements. We are in LCM.”

The agency is led by a leadership team comprising Campanaro; O’Neill; Sarah Butler, senior VP, operations and delivery; Lee Randolph, senior VP, client services; Tracey Van Kempen, senior VP, director of medical; and Najwa Sebbahi, senior VP, creative director. O’Neill notes that with the launch they also welcomed key strategy and delivery leads, including Sean Carr, senior VP, digital strategy and integration and Al Matesic, VP, tech lead.

Campanaro adds that during these first busy months the agency even had its first “spin off,” with Cira Montreys, Ph.D., chief medical officer leading the new Propel Health Medical Affairs offering. While this may seem ambitious for the new agency, “This was a case of opportunity, business case, and capabilities all coming together. Sometimes you just have to seize the moment.”

Philanthropy/citizenship

The leadership team states that as part of the agency’s focus on integrity, Propel Health Communications is committed to diversity in all aspects of the agency: talent, opportunity, and inclusion. “In our kick off, our agency teams decided to convene a formal DEI committee,” Campanaro says. “This is something our people felt strongly about.”

O’Neill adds, ”We also believe in inclusion in every sense of the word. While we are an organization with a clear career path, we are also flat in the sense that we are title agnostic in many of our activities and believe in creating strategic and creative opportunities for people that they would not necessarily get at other agencies.”

Leaders say with its focus on rare diseases, Propel Health Communications remains committed to supporting these patient communities, both in collaboration with clients and in agency activities.

“We are just getting started,” Campanaro says. “Our goal is to make this year meaningful and fulfilling for all the people who have and will join us on this adventure.”