Publicis Groupe spending spree continues

Advertising and PR firm Publicis Groupe has acquired the US-based healthcare analytics firm Verilogue.

Set up in 2006, Verilogue – the latest in a string of acquisitions for Publicis Groupe – is headquartered in Horsham, Pennsylvania, and specialises in physician-patient communication.

Verilogue will become part of Publicis Healthcare Communications Group (PHCG), and as part of the acquisition, its primary investor, Edison Venture Fund, will leave the company. All 31 employees will remain and will continue under the leadership of CEO and co-founder Jeff Kozloff.

The agency will retain its brand name, and will report to Janet Winkler, president of in-sync Group, a division of PHCG. The acquisition further strengthens PHCG's portfolio, providing clients with an expanded set of customer insight capabilities and new evidence-based customer communications and training programmes.

PHCG president and CEO Nick Colucci said his company was attracted to Verilogue because of its impressive track record and potential for growth.

"Multichannel influences are creating profound challenges in the physician-patient dialogue. That's where Verilogue really brings a unique offering to our clients – guiding healthcare communications that are grounded in the voice of the customer,” he added.

From Verilogue's perspective, joining PCHG offers instant access to a global customer base. “Aligning ourselves with PHCG's market-leading agencies and impressive talent and resources allows us to enter a new chapter”, said co-founder Kozloff.

Other recent Publicis acquisitions include India's Beehive Communications and Synergize, a South African digital search marketing company.  The company will continue to look for innovative technologies in healthcare communications, said chief operating officer Jean-Yves Naouri.