Huntsworth makes US acquisition
pharmafile | March 9, 2007 | News story | Medical Communications |
Communications group Huntsworth Health has acquired US agency Dorland Global Corporation, extending its reach into the world's largest pharmaceutical market.
Dorland is one of the oldest independent healthcare communications agencies in the US, with a client base that includes GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis and Schering-Plough.
Huntsworth Health's chief executive David Rowley said: "Huntsworth Health is thrilled to be joining forces with Dorland. Dorland and Huntsworth Health are very well synchronised in their service offerings, and Dorland will make a positive addition to the Huntsworth family."
Dorland was acquired for a total consideration of $50 million and the deal combines its healthcare public relations, marketing, and education units with Huntsworth Health's integrated communication offering, which spans advertising, medical education and public relations.
Dorland in its current form was founded in 1971 by its principal shareholders Harry and Rita Sweeney. Over the past 10 years, it has mainly focused on the pharmaceutical industry, offering public relations, marketing communications and advertising services.
In 2006, Dorland PR was named 2005 Healthcare Agency of the Year in the Holmes Report, and 2004 saw Harry and Rita Sweeney nominated agency people of the year in the annual Med Ad News Awards.
The company will continue to be led by its existing management team, which includes chairman and chief executive Harry Sweeney and president and chief operating officer Rita Sweeney and will report to David Rowley.
Rita Sweeney said: "Dorland is excited to have found a strong business partner that shares our entrepreneurial vision, and understands and supports our plans for the future. We look forward to extending and enhancing the myriad services we offer our valuable clients, whose satisfaction remains our top priority."
The agency employs 125 people in three locations, Philadelphia, San Francisco and New York.
Huntsworth Health is the healthcare division of Huntsworth plc. It employs 110 people covering the public relations, advertising, medical education and market research sectors, making it the largest integrated healthcare agency in the UK.
Lord Chadlington, chief executive of Huntsworth plc said: "We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Dorland which builds on our core strategy including the development of a global integrated healthcare business.
"It has always been our ambition to add a US arm to our highly successful UK healthcare group, which together with our European presence, gives our healthcare business a global network."
Working with its partners Trimedia and Mmd, Huntsworth Health now has a presence across all of Europe and North America.
