The Bloc Expands European Presence with New London Office
In a significant move to strengthen its European foothold, New York-based independent health agency The Bloc has announced the establishment of its first London office. This expansion marks a crucial step in the company's global growth strategy, following recent acquisitions and integrations in late 2023 and 2024.
Strategic Leadership Appointments
The new UK outpost will be led by a trio of industry veterans, each bringing approximately two decades of healthcare marketing expertise to their roles:
- James March has been appointed as Managing Director
- Andrew Gardner takes on the position of Executive Strategy Director
- Raakhee Thompson joins as Executive Client Director
These executives have accumulated impressive experience from major agencies including Havas, McCann, Publicis, and Omnicom. Thompson's background is particularly notable, with prior positions at pharmaceutical giants Merck KGaA and Boehringer Ingelheim.
The London team will work in close collaboration with Alessandro Seveso, CEO of Milan and Basel for The Bloc, and Florian Bernsdorf, Managing Partner of the Munich office, to spearhead operations in the UK market.
Global Expansion and Service Enhancement
The London office joins The Bloc's extensive network of more than a dozen European locations, including Paris, Milan, and Amsterdam. This strategic move follows the agency's recent expansion into the Asia-Pacific region with a new Singapore office in early 2025.
Alessandro Seveso, commenting on the expansion, stated, "After the acquisitions made in late 2023 followed by an integration phase in 2024, the opening of our new office in London in 2025, with impressive strategic hires, signals that we are fully equipped and ready to serve regional and global clients."
The agency aims to leverage its unique Behaviorally Enriched Communications approach, combined with scientific, strategic, and creative strengths, to deliver enhanced value and creative solutions to client challenges.
Continued Growth and Leadership Strengthening
The Bloc's expansion is not limited to Europe. The agency recently bolstered its US leadership with the appointment of Steven Frank as President of The Bloc New York. Frank brings valuable experience from his previous roles at Inizio Evoke and Grey Group.
This series of strategic moves, including office expansions and key hires, underscores The Bloc's commitment to global growth and its ambition to provide comprehensive, innovative services to clients in the healthcare sector across multiple regions.
References
- London calling: The Bloc expands into UK with new office, executive hires
The Bloc is building out its European presence, as the New York-based independent health agency announced Tuesday the formation of its first London outpost.
Explore Further
How does The Bloc plan to integrate the strategic leadership in their new London office with existing teams across Europe?
What previous projects or initiatives did James March, Andrew Gardner, and Raakhee Thompson lead in their former roles at companies like Havas, McCann, Publicis, and Omnicom?
What specific strategies will The Bloc's London office employ to leverage its Behaviorally Enriched Communications approach in the healthcare market?
What impact might the leadership appointments at The Bloc's new London office have on their market position in the UK compared to competitors?
In what ways does the appointment of Steven Frank as President of The Bloc New York complement the agency's European expansion efforts?