Edelman has acquired Sixdegrés, a Montreal-based boutique medical communications and health marketing firm.
“It’s a perfect complement to what we’re doing,” says Ève Laurier, general manager of Edelman Montreal, of the transaction.
Laurier says the move bolsters the firm’s offerings in Montreal, which is home to a significant life science industry.
While Edelman has “a strong, senior team” in its health practice, Sixdegrés brings extended therapeutic expertise in areas where Edelman Montreal was lacking, such as gastrointestinal or probiotics. Sixdegrés also excelled in providing training to health care professionals, which fills another gap at the agency, Laurier says.
“We found an entrepreneur that has the perfect culture and perfect vision that fits Edelman” and that’s half the battle with any integration, Laurier says.
Sixdegrés, which had an office in the Montreal borough of Verdun, has integrated into Edelman’s existing Montreal office.
Caroline Chevrier, who founded Sixdegrés in 2008 and was its president, has joined Edelman’s national health practice as senior vice-president, health. Chevrier has more than 20 years of experience in medical communications, health marketing, promotions and health technology.
Sixdegrés’ two other full-time employees have also joined Edelman Montreal. Its five freelance employees will continue to do work for Edelman Montreal and could be integrated into its full-time workforce.
Edelman Montreal previously had three full-time staffers in its health care practice.
“We have found a home that shares the same culture and entrepreneurial values, as well as strong, complementary expertise enabling us to provide our clients with a wider service offering that is essential in today’s growing digital health market,” Chevrier said in a statement.
Sixdegrés’ counted Telus Health, Danone, McGill University, Pfizer and Yves Rocher among its clients and boasted of an 85% client retention rate.
Edelman also has Telus Health as a client as well as Myeloma, Otsuka, J&J, Janssen and the Canadian Association of Optometrists.
