The BlocPartners: 2019
The BlocPartners
32 Old Slip, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Telephone: 917-305-5581
E-mail : [email protected]
Website: theblocpartners.com
“Fifteen years ago, we turned the concept of a multinational network model on its head when we established a global network that is member owned and operated,” say the leaders of The BlocPartners. “Today, though imitated by many, our network continues to differentiate itself through our world-class talent, the services we offer, and the geographies we serve. Through a multilocal model, The BlocPartners flexes and collaborates across international boundaries to overcome every kind of barrier and deliver evidence-based, locally sourced, and globally effective solutions. We are a network of shared values and common purpose: to be greater together in our mission to do good.”
Each BlocPartners agency has built core offerings to meet local needs and creative sensibilities. “We provide strong strategic and creative support to local client affiliates who need much more than adaptation services. As part of The BlocPartners, each agency becomes a portal to BlocSource, a global reservoir of world-class talent and worldwide resources. Through seamless collaboration and true partnership our local strengths are globally amplified.”
“Clients tell us that working with The BlocPartners is unlike any previous network experience,” says Rico Viray, Chairman. “We strive to deliver the best of two worlds: high-level performance, innovation, value, and global scale of an MNC, and the deep local knowledge, agility, collaborative, and creative spirit of independent agencies – that’s our differentiator.”
Recent accomplishments
According to the network’s leaders, The BlocPartners expanded customers, services, and geographies in 2018. “Historically, The BlocPartners focused largely on branding and promotion,” says Şermin Kartal, Chief Scientific Officer. “In 2018, we established and met the strategic goal to enhance our global medical communications capabilities with the addition of MIMS, an independent medical communication powerhouse. This strategic partnership expands our geographic reach, particularly in Asia, and extends the services we can provide to medical affairs clients.”
MIMS was founded in 1963 and is now Asia’s largest multichannel provider of drug information, in addition to medical communications, events management, and marketing services.
“After an extensive evaluation of potential medical content partners in the APAC region, MIMS clearly rose to the top,” Viray says. “Not only will they strengthen our offering to clients in the region, they will also contribute their high-science content capabilities at a global level.”
MIMS is present in 16 markets across Asia Pacific with 2 million healthcare professional subscribers to its drug and resource portal (the only one of its kind in Asia), and digital and print publications. MIMS’ work empowers healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes by facilitating knowledge exchange and better decision-making. Victor Wright, MIMS Chief Client Officer for Pharma Marketing, says, “The BlocPartners perfectly complements our service offering that masters the art and science of healthcare communications and services across key stakeholders and channels.”
As big pharma/biopharma clients shift their focus to APAC, MIMS strengthens The BlocPartners’ global reach in this strategically importantly geography.
Earlier this year, OPEN Health Patient & Brand Communications (PBC) was welcomed as the newest member of The BlocPartners. OPEN Health PBC is one of four key practices within the OPEN Health Group, servicing end-to-end client needs.
The PBC practice that joins The BlocPartners comprises patient engagement, health technology, market insight, public relations, and brand communications. They provide local, global, or pan-European brand communications to both HCPs and patients.
The partnership with OPEN Health PBC also brings opportunities to access the broader family of OPEN Health practices including OPEN VIE (Value, Informatics & Evidence) specializing in market access, real-world evidence, and patient-centered outcomes, synergistic with the US-focused ValueBuilders expertise at The Bloc. Additionally, the OPEN Health Medical Communications practice (incorporating US-based Peloton Advantage) expands The BlocPartners’ capabilities to address publication and medical education needs for their global clients.
Commenting on the new partnership, OPEN Health PBC CEO Matt de Gruchy said, “We are delighted to become part of The BlocPartners network, joining a truly global healthcare communications group that shares our belief and passion for creativity and innovation in patient and brand communication. The partnership strongly supports our vision to grow and drive our work on a wider geographic footprint.”
Strengthened by this partnership, The BlocPartners’ (in-house) medical muscle now consists of 28 MDs, 24 PhDs, 10 PharmDs, and 127 medical writers and editors.
7At a global level, the notable new assignments in 2018 included Illumina (Global/US AOR) and Bayer’s Eylea (global AOR). “In addition, we successfully implemented the BlocSource model for the unbranded communication of MSD Vaccines across the EURAM region (102 countries). Within seven months, a team dispersed across two continents was able to produce 126 assets with quality, speed, and cost-efficiency.”
In 2018, The BlocPartners member agencies were honored as finalists in 51 industry awards and won 74; including two Lions Health, two Clio Awards, five Global Awards, and eight Effie Awards. Executives say the network’s most awarded campaigns were two pro bono assignments – the “Last Laugh” for the Indian Association of Palliative Care by The BlocPartners India (Medulla) and the “Dot Mini” for the Dot by The BlocPartners Germany (Serviceplan) – and “eLEOmental” by The BlocPartners Spain (Umbilical) for Leo Pharma.
The BlocPartners has three network initiatives established to nurture careers and strengthen relationships across borders: The BlocPartnersXChange, Mentorship Program, and Most Valued Player (MVP) Award. Stéphanie Liebing, based in Switzerland, was chosen as 2018’s MVP for spear-heading the geographically dispersed team into an effective and efficient turnaround for MSD Vaccines. The MVP recipient of the previous year, Carrie Chong (Toronto), has probably benefited the most from all network initiatives so far according to management. “I was thrilled when the network provided avenues to embrace connections with our global partners,” Chong says. “Through the exchange program I was welcomed with open arms by the team in Paris last summer and later connected with a mentee in Spain on digital development processes. Lastly, after humbly accepting the 2017 MVP Award, I quickly chose to invest my award prize on traveling to Basel this spring to connect with The BlocPartners family during the network meeting. There is so much to learn from this smart and fun-loving group!”
STRUCTURE AND SERVICES
The BlocPartners is incorporated as an LLC, with 19 top-ranking health creative and medical communication agencies covering 29 key major and emerging markets. Services include global branding and launch leadership; strategic brand communications; consumer/patient communications; market access and RWE expertise; omnichannel strategy, development, and analytics; adaptation and transcreation; meetings and events; publications and medical communications; and social media.
The BlocPartners uses a board of directors model of governance that is responsible for the continuous excellence and growth of the network’s capabilities. The elected board members are Global Chairman Rico Viray; VP, Extended Markets, Susan Miller Viray: Global Chief Creative Officer Xavier Sánchez; Global Chief Scientific Officer Şermin Kartal; and Global Chief Innovation Officer André Darmon.
Managing Director Bárbara Büchel leads a global business team driving the network’s strategic, operational, and business development efforts.
Global offices are located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, EMEA, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UAE, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
FUTURE PLANS
This year, the network’s focus will be to expand BlocSource as an effective portal into world-class talent across geographic boundaries to achieve better creativity, faster deliveries at scale, and cost-effectiveness.
The BlocPartners will continue to extend BlocSky, a service model that delivers greater efficiency for lower complexity projects to the meet the needs of a growing list of customers seeking to effectively stretch their budgets without sacrificing quality.
PHILANTHROPY/CITIZENSHIP
Half of the world’s population does not have access to safe sanitation. That is why The BlocPartners decided to support Sanitation First – a charity that builds EcoSan toilets for communities in need.
Because access to a toilet is a human right, not a gift, BlocPartners created shittygifts.org, a website that invites people to send friends and loved ones an e-card with a funny illustration and message, and make a small donation to Sanitation First. The e-cards were designed by artists from 10 different countries, including renowned artists represented by Levine/Leavitt. The soft launch was on World Toilet Day and today, teams across three continents are working together on making a greater splash with the shitty gifts that save lives.
