McCann Health Americas names president

McCann Health has named company veteran Amar Urkehar as head of its Americas business.

Urkehar served most recently as McCann Health's Singapore-based executive VP, leading the group's 14-office, nine-country strong Asia Pacific network.

The move to New York will see Urhekar take over leadership of McCann Health's North and South American professional healthcare operations during what the company refers to as 'a period of intensified investment, innovation, integration and growth'.

McCann Worldgroup is expanding these regional operations in response to changes in the consumer and healthcare communications environment, in part related to healthcare insurance reforms in the US.

The expansion includes an extensive investment programme encompassing talent, enhanced digital health platforms, and improved healthcare professional-patient information management programmes.

"Our work over the last five years has put us in a good place to capitalise on these market developments, both in our professional and consumer businesses in the Americas,” said McCann Health global CEO John Cahill.

“Amar's work in Asia will provide valuable experience-based understanding for how we can capitalise on those opportunities whilst at the same time providing a unique global connection for our clients in the Americas."

Urhekar began his career with McCann Health in 2000 when he founded the agency's operations in India. In 2004, he was appointed managing director of McCann Health Greater China, and president of Japan McCann Health in 2009. He was made head of Asia Pacific the following year.