Strong leadership has propelled the agency to awards from the healthcare industry’s leading publications

NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — PM360, a publication for marketing decision makers in the pharmaceutical, biotech, diagnostics, and medical device industries, has bestowed ConcentricLife leadership with prestigious honors: naming co-founders Ken Begasse and Michael Sanzen to the publication’s Elite 100 in the Entrepreneurs category, and Ken Begasse as a finalist for Advertising Agency CEO of the Year.

Ken and Michael have been partners for 30+ years and launched the industry’s most iconic brands before ultimately launching their own agency before they turned 30. ConcentricLife was created around one central human truth: At the heart of every personal experience is a health experience. That truth has resulted in groundbreaking work and industry-wide recognition with awards including “Launch of the Year” three times, most recently for Wegovy, and nine Agency of the Year awards in the agency’s 21-year history.

The last 12 months have represented the very best of Ken’s leadership as CEO, as he brought teams together under the platform of ConcentricLife—a transformative agency model designed to create brands that thrive at the very center of the human experience in health and wellness. He has overseen the cultural and operational reorganization of 290 individuals and processes to incorporate legacy best practices, and build new and improved ways of working while growing the platform into new services and offerings.

This year, ConcentricLife was ranked #30 in the MM+M Agency 100, considered the industry’s definitive guide to the top agencies in the health landscape. Since the list began over a decade ago, ConcentricLife has consistently been named as one of the pre-eminent leaders in the space.

“It’s an incredible honor to be in such rare company amongst some of our industry’s great minds,” says Ken Begasse. “I continue to unwaveringly believe in the team we’ve assembled at ConcentricLife – both our talent and our clients. Every day I work with the best of the best and am humbled to have their trust as their leader. There’s no stopping what we can accomplish, and we will continue to be on the forefront of agency offerings.”

“Ken instills the values of partnership and entrepreneurship in every ConcentricLife team member,” reports long-time employee Kristin McAteer, Managing Director of Client Solutions. “He is the biggest advocate not just for our client’s business, but also for our talent; and has created the kind of culture that allows each and every one of us to truly make an impact.”

ConcentricLife partners with a diverse range of clients across the healthcare landscape from rare disease to wellness, deeply entrenched in brands that put the human health experience at the center of life.

Since 2009, the PM360 Trailblazer Awards have recognized outstanding achievement and innovation in healthcare marketing. The CEO of the Year Award was established to honor CEOs in the industry for their ability to thrive in all aspects of leadership, from establishing a company culture where individuals feel safe, respected, valued, and motivated to displaying a unique vision for their company that resulted in exceptional success to earning respect from industry colleagues due to their morals, reputation, and character.

PM360‘s ELITE 100 lists the most influential people and teams in the healthcare and life sciences industries based on their career accomplishments. Ultimately, the ELITE 100 represent a group of individuals and marketing teams who have made a significant impact on the healthcare industry throughout their careers or show great promise as future leaders based on what they have achieved so far.

The MM+M Agency 100 is an annual ranking that celebrates the top healthcare marketing firms in North America. Medical Marketing + Media, the media brand of record for pharmaceutical marketing and commercialization, profiles the top performing agencies based on North American revenue and offers valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of the agency world.

About ConcentricLife
ConcentricLife is an agency built to answer the rising customer demand on the health marketer. ConcentricLife spans three distinct specialist practices that bring over 20 years of deep subject matter expertise in rare disease, healthcare, and wellness, with sophisticated marketing capabilities spanning the organization. We put Health at the Center through our proprietary Human Connection Score™ designed to build optimal brand experiences at any stage of the health journey. For more information, visit www.concentric.life.

About Stagwell
Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

CONTACT: 
Sarah Arvizo
pr@stagwellglobal.com

The Stagwell (STGW) agency will develop, drive omnichannel media innovation to elevate the brand

NEW YORK, Aug. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Global media agency Assembly has been selected as the Media Agency of Record in North America for Vera Bradley, the iconic American bag and luggage lifestyle brand known for its vibrant patterns and functional designs. Vera Bradley consolidated media services to Assembly based on the agency’s extensive media expertise and market-leading technology. As such, Assembly will oversee all media and data services to accelerate market share based on the changing needs and behaviors of today’s and tomorrow’s consumers.

Vera Bradley’s decision to entrust Assembly with its media underscores the agency’s proven track record of delivering exceptional results and driving growth for its clients.

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Vera Bradley as their Media Agency of Record,” said Valerie Davis, Assembly North America CEO. “Vera Bradley is an iconic brand that resonates with a wide range of consumers across generations, and we are committed to executing innovative campaigns that capture the essence of their brand and engage audiences across multiple platforms.”

Vera Bradley, known for its distinctive quilted bags, luggage, and colorful accessories, has consistently stood out for its commitment to quality, creativity, and a strong sense of community. With Assembly’s expertise in strategic media planning, data-driven insights, and its proprietary tech suite, the partnership is set to infuse fresh energy into Vera Bradley’s marketing initiatives.

“We are excited about the possibilities that our collaboration with Assembly presents,” said Alison Hiatt, Chief Marketing Officer for Vera Bradley, Inc. “Their reputation for delivering innovative and impactful campaigns aligns perfectly with our vision for the future of the Vera Bradley brand. We look forward to building meaningful and long-lasting connections with consumers together.”

The assignment is effective immediately.

ABOUT ASSEMBLY 
Assembly is the modern global omnichannel media agency, bringing data, talent, and technology together to find the change that fuels growth for the best brands on the planet. Our approach connects big, bold brand stories with integrated, global media capabilities that deliver performance and drive large-scale business growth. Our work is powered by our proprietary, in-house technology solution, STAGE, and led by our global talent base of over 1,600 people around the world. We’re purpose-driven at our core and pioneers in social and environmental impact in the agency world. Assembly is a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing. For more information, visit assemblyglobal.com.

PRESS CONTACT:
Briana Comerford
Briana.Comerford@assemblyglobal.com

ABOUT VERA BRADLEY
Vera Bradley, based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a leading designer of women’s handbags, luggage and other travel items, fashion and home accessories, and unique gifts. Founded in 1982 by friends Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller, the brand is known for its innovative designs, iconic patterns, and brilliant colors that inspire and connect women unlike any other brand in the global marketplace. Visit www.verabradley.com and follow @verabradley to learn more.

Vera Bradley is a Vera Bradley, Inc. brand (Nasdaq: VRA).

Moonrock’s interactive activations will open new avenues for Stagwell’s (STGW) GALE and its impressive roster of clients.

NEW YORK , Aug. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Leading Business Agency GALE has announced a strategic partnership with renowned gaming design specialist Moonrock Labs. The collaboration combines Moonrock Lab’s industry-leading game development and design capabilities with GALE’s award-winning integrated marketing approach, revolutionizing gaming solutions for the agency’s client base.

‘Beyond Words: A Guide to Inclusive Language,’ a new foundational resource for brands, will serve as the basis of the all-staff certification program for Code and Theory employees with plans to offer training network-wide across Stagwell (STGW) and throughout the industry.

NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Code and Theory, Stagwell’s (NASDAQ: STGW) fastest-growing digital transformation and engineering network, is launching “Beyond Words: A Guide to Inclusive Language.” The 94-page guide equips marketers with the practical tools to choose inclusive language that will invite communities in, grow audiences and create brand love with consumers they may have failed to recognize in the past.

The guide’s 10 chapters take a deep dive into commonly used language with specific directives about what terms marketers must adopt. It also offers the context and history behind discriminatory language that marketers must avoid.

Language is an ever-evolving medium. New phrases enter the lexicon; others become outdated. That’s why this new guide updates the highly recognized first-edition “Words Up: Guide to Inclusive Writing at Code and Theory”, which debuted last year. It also features new chapters about how to speak about addiction and religion. The guide will be updated annually to reflect the active changes in language and culture.

To ensure that Code and Theory employees are using the most inclusive language for client projects and beyond, the agency has introduced its “Inclusive Language Certification Program.” Kicking off after Labor Day, all Code and Theory employees will be offered a seven-hour, biweekly certification program. The training will then be made available to all 70-plus Stagwell agencies globally, with plans to further offer the certification to the industry at large.

How to Speak about Addiction and Other Major Updates

The 10 chapters of ‘Beyond Words’ delve into: Ability, Addiction, Age, Appearance, Gender, Nationality, Race, Religion, Sexuality and Socioeconomic Language. Each chapter also includes important history and context of existing language and brand case studies. Additionally, the guide provides insightful opportunities for marketers and advertising examples.

• For example, in terms of addiction, brands should avoid using the words “addicted,” “junkie,” and associated terms, to describe food, snacks, beauty products, and other products. It trivializes substance abuse disorder.
• Another example to consider: The term LatinX is used to offer a gender-neutral way to describe someone of Latin American/Hispanic descent. But the sounds it contains work better in English than in Spanish. For Spanish speakers seeking a gender-neutral word, “Latine” is preferred.

The guide was authored by Code and Theory’s Group Director of Inclusive Design and Marketing Strategy, Kirstyn Nimmo, Group Creative Director Alison Hess and 15 members of the Code and Theory copywriting team. Together, they are continuously monitoring language and culture to help guide marketers, employees and the industry at large.

Code and Theory’s Inclusive Design and Marketing Strategy Discipline is the first holistic unit dedicated to ensuring every agency output is inclusive at its core; helping brands resonate with today’s diverse consumers and increase retention among employees.

Nimmo says: “Evolutions in language are direct reflections of culture and our words have the power to either communicate bias and ignorance, or honor and respect. People from historically excluded groups have always navigated these nuances. It’s time for marketers to level up their understanding and thoughtfully reach consumers who have been ignored for far too long.”

Hess says: “In a world of remote and hybrid work environments, we need new cues to inform the way we act, speak and connect with one another. With this guide’s updates and expansions, people and brands have the most current resource to ensure they’re communicating with thoughtfulness and intention.”

Mike Treff, CEO of Code and Theory says: “The inclusive language guide was born out of Code and Theory’s culture of continuous improvement, even when it pushes us out of our comfort zone.  The team had a very passionate discussion about the correct words to use for our client work and with each other. The end result is this guide and the certification program. The goal is to cause a ripple effect in how brands can more effectively reach consumers by driving equity through words.”

Click here to download “Beyond Words: A Guide to Inclusive Language.”

About Code and Theory Network

Code and Theory Network is the only network with a balance of 50% creative and 50% engineers at scale. The technology-first group within Stagwell is built to partner with businesses to navigate the complexity of changing consumer behaviors, emerging technologies and AI. With a global footprint and the capabilities to work across the entire consumer journey, we crave the hardest problems to solve. The network includes the flagship agency Code and Theory as well as Kettle, Mediacurrent, Rhythm, Truelogic and YML. Code and Theory clients include Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, MSNBC, NFL, Pfizer and Zappos. For more, visit codeandtheory.com.

About Stagwell

Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

CONTACT: 
Kenneth Hein
press@codeandtheory.com