The leadership team, from left to right: Kass Sells, Global COO and President of International, WE; Julie Noble, Co-Founder, Hopscotch; Sam Mercer, Co-Founder, Hopscotch; Ruth Allchurch, Managing Director, WE, UK.

Global independent integrated communications agency, WE Communications (WE), has acquired London-based Hopscotch Consulting, a social impact and behaviour change agency. Following the deal, Hopscotch Consulting (Hopscotch) will be known as ‘Hopscotch, a WE Communications Company’.

Through the acquisition, WE is able to further accelerate its capabilities in advising brands on social and economic issues, as well as providing advice on matters of brand reputation and responsible governance.

The acquisition of Hopscotch also brings to WE extensive expertise in connecting with young people and youth audiences, developing educational programmes and working with government groups in new ways.

Commenting on the news, Ruth Allchurch, WE managing director, UK, said: “Hopscotch complements and delivers on WE’s growth strategy, centred on deliberate choices around people, culture and clients. Alongside our tech practice, the Hopscotch acquisition bolsters our burgeoning Scientific Engagement and Health practice led by Ben Fisher, as well as our growing corporate reputation and brand purpose practice in the UK, led by Kemi Akindele.”

Hopscotch has focused on social impact and behaviour change, with a focus on education programmes that address issues covering employability and skills development, social mobility, climate change and public health.

“Hopscotch is incredibly excited to be joining WE Communications to continue driving positive change for the next generation.” said Sam Mercer co-founder, Hopscotch, a WE Communications Company.

She added: “Joining WE will enable Hopscotch to expand the reach of our social impact and brand purpose services globally, working with global education, tech, consumer and health brands. Our shared values and fierce independence make our partnership a natural fit”.

WE’s current offering will be extended by the acquisition, reinforcing its ability to provide clients with a robust platform of educational programmes and youth engagement capabilities across the communications spectrum.

Hopscotch, a WE Communications Company, will retain its own client portfolio and will continue to collaborate with WE on new business and joint client opportunities across corporate, consumer brand, healthcare and technology sectors.

“From our fierce independence to our deep commitment to moving people to positive action, WE and Hopscotch’s shared values make this a perfect match,” said Melissa Waggener Zorkin, Global chief executive officer of WE.

The current leadership of co-founders Sam Mercer and Julie Noble and managing director Marcus Hernon will report to WE managing director, UK, Ruth Allchurch.

Top left to bottom right: Avalere’s leadership team, including Kelly Brantley, Policy Practice Director; Sarah Alwardt, Healthcare Transformation Practice Director; Elizabeth Carpenter, President; Lance Grady, Market Access Practice Director; Miryam Frieder, Policy Practice Director; Rob Carter, Financial Services Practice Director.

Global commercialisation partner for biopharma, medtech and wellness companies, Fishawack Health (FH), has acquired healthcare consulting and advisory firm Avalere Health (Avalere) from Inovalon, which acquired the consultancy in 2015.

FH and Bridgepoint, its principal investor, acquired Avalere from Inovalon, a provider of cloud-based platforms that empower data-driven healthcare. The new acquisition will enable both Inovalon and Avalere to focus on each agency’s respective goals.

Having established itself as a healthcare consultancy for over two decades, Avalere partners with leading life sciences companies, health plans, providers and investors to provide innovative, data-driven solutions to help address complex healthcare challenges.

Commenting on the deal, Jon Koch, chief executive officer at FH said: “Avalere [helps] clients identify business strategies that navigate the evolving healthcare landscape. From policy to market access and transformation, the team offers a 360-degree perspective that reflects the interconnected nature of the healthcare system.”

As the largest expansion of FH to date, the acquisition will allow clients to benefit from integrated offerings covering areas of policy, access, value and evidence.

FH will welcome more than 200 of Avalere’s advisors, securing its US market presence and diversifying its client base.

Koch added: “Avalere complements Fishawack’s global footprint with a deep understanding of US markets and public policy, including key government and commercial stakeholders. We are excited to welcome Avalere to FH.”

Having begun in 2001 as a Medical Communications agency, FH has developed into a global, full-service commercialisation and healthcare advisory partner, offering services centralised on evidence generation and access strategy scientific marketing, strategic healthcare consulting and medical communications.

David Sykes, president of policy, access, value and evidence at FH, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Avalere team to FH. They have built an outstanding client reputation. Combining our skills and experiences across HEOR, market access and policy will allow us to partner with clients to provide a deeper set of integrated capabilities not offered by other firms.”

Elizabeth Carpenter, president at Avalere, said: “Avalere is excited to join FH and combine our deep understanding of the US market with a truly global perspective.”