NEW GLOBAL ROLE SIGNALS IMPORTANCE OF DIGITAL TO HEALTHCARE CUSTOMER INSIGHT

Healthcare needs to see digital as a smarter way of getting closer to customers – that is the view of the man appointed to head a leading healthcare market research firm’s global digital offering.

Cello Health Insight has signalled the ongoing importance of digital to its business by creating a new post of Global Head of Digital, and digital pioneer Damian Eade has returned to the firm to take up the post.

Damian spent 12 years at Cello Health Insight from 2002 until 2014, and during that time was an early advocate for digital – successfully developing and applying digital techniques to healthcare market research. He was a leading member of the team that created eVillage, Cello Health Insight’s groundbreaking and award-winning online qualitative research community.

Now, after almost two years as head of healthcare and managing director of London-based agency Kiosk, he has returned to Cello Health Insight to lead its digital offer worldwide.

“Over the past few years, the pharma world has increasingly embraced the new opportunities presented by the digital revolution. That said, given the rapid pace of change, companies have at the same time been grappling with how they can make it really work for them.” commented Damian.

“This is the case for both pharma insight agencies and our clients, as we look to see how we can evolve, adapt and keep up. But when it comes to the world of customer insight, we need to remember that fundamentally we are still looking at understanding people – human behaviours, beliefs and opinions. And digital is presenting us with a fantastic wealth of opportunities to get closer to people, and the moments that matter most. In a world where technology is changing the boundaries of what is possible on a daily basis, it’s more important than ever for us not to lose sight of the human story and implications.

“Alongside this is the opportunity for us to work smarter, both in terms of uncovering insights, as well as helping our clients to find new ways to better engage their customers through digital. And what excites me is that there are no signs of this slowing down!”

Welcoming Damian to his new role, joint CEO Jane Shirley said, “Since we created eVillage over 5 years ago, Cello Health Insight has led the way in introducing digital methodologies such as mobile research, online communities and digital pathways into healthcare market research, and we are acknowledged as a leader in this field. We have created this new global role to enable us to move onto the next stage, which is integrating digital fully into what we do.

“We are delighted to welcome back Damian to lead our digital team and further advance the boundaries of Cello Health Insight’s digital offer.”