Claire Gillis wins Women in Marketing health leadership prize

WPP’s health practice international CEO Claire Gillis picked up the inaugural healthcare marketing leadership prize at last night’s Women in Marketing (WiM) Awards in London.

She has spent more than 30 years within the healthcare industry, working as a pharmacologist, health economist, entrepreneur and in her current role at WPP oversees a 1,000-strong health team that’s spread over 10 countries.

WiM founder Ade Onilude said: “Claire was selected by our judging panel due to the sheer breadth of her contribution to healthcare coupled with her relentless appetite for change. The impact of her work spans across many international issues focusing on increasing our access to healthcare – leading campaigns that have changed the way we think about treatment and prevention.

“But we have also seen her impact internally – with her track record in leading projects that have instigated impressive levels of organisational change in the promotion of work-place wellness. She’s got both a fantastic big picture vision as well as an impressive attention to the day to day realties of working in the health sector.”

The award for best marketing leader in creating change in health and wellness is part of WIM’s expansion into healthcare, which recognises the increasing prominence of healthcare communications and innovation within the advertising sector.

In her acceptance speech Gillis said: “I am honoured to receive this award and feel privileged to have worked in such a fascinating industry where change effectively results in more people having better, healthier lives. You don’t get more meaningful than that.

“Managing change in the healthcare industry is also a team effort - it requires an extraordinary collection of specialists, doctors, scientists, creatives, PR’s and strategists. So for everyone at WPP Health Practice - this is for you.”