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Global firm continues to grow through mergers with siblings and acquisitions
Combining his medical and marketing training, Roberto Ascione founded Healthware Consulting in Italy in 1996. Business grew fi rst in Italy, expanded into European accounts, and the agency just kept growing from there. Publicis acquired it in 2007 and it became known as Publicis Heathware International (PHI) with Ascione at the helm as president.
The plan is to expand globally though mergers with Publicis siblings and through acquisitions. Last year was a big year on that front-PHI merged with sibling iMed Studios and acquired Dusseldorf-based Digital District.
Headquarters remain in Salerno, Italy, but PHI now has a New York City hub and offi ces in Paris, Dusseldorf, Milan, Rome, Ames, IA, and Yardley, PA. Kristin Milburn leads US operations.
Worldwide headcount is 124. The iMed Studios merger helped increase US headcount to 38, up from 7 in 2009 (it's 40 now). Business is split about evenly between the US and the rest of the world (Europe is 45%; Asia Pacifi c...