Fern Lazar to lead the FINN Global Health Practice in its continued growth

The appointment confirms agency emphasis on integrated communications and tees-up increased expansion in European and Asian markets

Finn Partners has announced the promotion of Fern Lazar, MBA to managing partner, Global Health Practise Leader. The appointment recognises her outstanding results in championing her colleague’s and clients’ needs.

Lazar’s time at Finn has led to the development of new services in investor relations, brand support, patient advocacy, scientific writing and medical communications, and clinical trial patient recruitment, supporting client achievements and improved consumer-health outcomes.

In her new position, Lazar leads more than 200 health communication professionals across 19 of FINN’s 27 global offices. In addition, she continues to serve as head of Lazar/FINN; since joining in September of 2019, this unit has doubled in size and demonstrated the increased importance of uniting health public relations and investor relations disciplines to maximize patient-care impact and shareholder value.

FINN role

As before, Lazar reports to Gil Bashe, managing partner, Chair Global Health and Purpose at FINN.

Gil Bashe, managing partner and Chair Global Health and Purpose at FINN Partners, said: “Fern Lazar is among the health communication sector’s iconic leaders and champions of biopharma and medical device innovations that have revolutionized patient care. Her entrepreneurial spirit, expertise in the life sciences and financial markets and fluency in four languages give her expansive vision on global health possibilities.”

Lazar assumes her new role from Kristie Kuhl, JD, who served as Practice Leader since July 2021 and now departs for Zeno Group to take up that agency’s lead health and wellness role.

“I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to my long-time colleague Kristie Kuhl, who will continue to champion health innovation through a new agency community,” reflects Bashe. “The need of patients is great, and communication is a critical part of their care. All who answer the call to action in our field are united in a common purpose. We wish Kristie continued success.”

“It is a privilege to be called upon to lead one of the communication industry’s foremost health practices,” said Lazar. “In joining Peter, Gil and FINN almost three years ago, it quickly became clear that when people with shared values unite, we can offer much more to our clients and their patients, and the results of our collaboration have exceeded all expectations. Lazar/FINN and FINN have benefited from incredible growth while never losing focus on our people and our clients and their patients, who inspire us each day.

It is an honour to serve the industry through this unique, collaborative community. I look forward to supporting my colleagues and their clients around the world to maximize their business goals and improve the health of the patients they serve.”

Since its founding, the FINN Global Health Practice has grown by double digits annually, from $5 million in 2015 to more than $44 million in fees in 2021. It is recognised as a top global healthcare agency by PRovoke Media, one of the four largest independent health agencies in O’Dwyer’s PR, and “Most Admired Agency” by industry trade community HITMC, the FINN Global Health Practice has become one of the agency’s largest units as it continues to expand into Europe and Asia.

Lazar has played a key role in these accomplishments and has been extremely impactful in marshalling collaborative efforts in the FINN community. During the last two years, Lazar’s mobilizing of FINN colleagues toward integrated digital marketing campaigns has helped clients overcome COVID-era communication challenges.

As the Practice expands beyond the United States, Lazar’s ability to rally colleagues to client needs will draw on her experience working in Basel, Switzerland for a global pharmaceutical company as well as nearly a decade advising some of Europe’s and Latin America’s largest companies on their U.S. investor relations programs.

FINN managing partnership

Lazar joined FINN in 2019 as a managing partner after leading her agency Lazar Partners for 20 years. Before that, Lazar led the health and financial practices at two global PR firms. Before that, she was a soft commodities trader in New York. Lazar holds a B.S. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in International Economics and an advanced certificate from the Landeggar Program for International Business Diplomacy.

“Fern and Gil are outstanding partners who work toward our client’s and community’s success,” said Peter Finn, founding managing partner and CEO. “Fern now steps forward to lead one of our agency’s most important and fast-growing practices and, with amazing colleagues at her side globally, to make a difference through a practice that is, by its mission, driven to create a healthier, better world.”