The Publicis Life Brands Resolute Award for Emerging Leader in Healthcare Communications

Summary of work

Synergy Vision’s Client Services Director, Sorcha Ferris, is truly one of the industry’s leaders of tomorrow. In less than two decades she has achieved more than most of her peers could hope to in a full career.  

Sorcha began her career in the pharmaceutical industry at GSK in Ireland; her career went global when she moved to London in order to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry at an international level with GSK. There she worked on the global commercial strategy for Seretide, now worth over £8bn. In 2009 Sorcha joined London-based medical communications agency, Synergy Vision. From there she made the bold move to lead the set-up of Synergy Vision Rx, Ireland’s only specialist medical communications agency, playing a principal role in pioneering the medical communications industry in Ireland. Having recognised that Synergy Vision Rx’s presence as the only specialist medical communications agency in Ireland was symptomatic of a wider need for local talent in the field, Sorcha is now investing in university and college students, helping them gain vital industry exposure, and in doing so giving back to the next generation. In parallel to her work in Ireland, Sorcha has helped grow the global accounts for Synergy Vision; in 2013 alone, she took on the challenge of diversifying Synergy Vision’s largest client account, taking it from two core therapy areas across one region, to seven therapy areas across multiple regions.

Judges comments

You could say to Sorcha ‘go and make it happen’, and it would happen. She is driven, an achiever and not afraid of a challenge. She showed courage moving from pharma to join a start-up, and is certainly one to watch for the future.