Publicis Buys Healthcare MR Agency In-Sync

Marcoms giant Publicis Groupe has acquired Toronto-based pharmaceutical and healthcare customer insight agency, In-Sync. Financial terms were not disclosed.

As part of the deal, In-Sync will be integrated with Publicis Healthcare Communications Groupe (PHCG), which manages agencies specializing in advertising, medical education, sales and marketing, and medical and scientific affairs.

In-Sync was founded by former Procter & Gamble marketer President Janet Winkler in 1989, and offers a suite of qual and quant branded products to biopharma companies worldwide.

The agency combines market research, brand strategy, and management consulting with the social studies of human groups and individuals, utilizing its proprietary '360 Degree Insight Engine'. PHCG says that the addition of these services will extend its own customer insight capabilities.

Following the acquisition, the agency will retain its name, and its 75 employees will remain at its current location where they will continue to be led by Winkler, who will report to Sam Welch, COO of PHCG North America.

'Joining PHCG enables us to extend our global presence and expand client value through the group's full scope of talent, resources and service,' Winkler states. 'We are excited by the opportunity to more seamlessly integrate customer insight and branding with the ultimate goal of helping our clients better deliver against the needs of their customers.'

Web sites: www.publicishealthcare.com and www.insyncstrategy.com .