Medulla expands global presence with strategic US launch

Medulla Communications has announced its expansion into the United States, marking a significant step in the agency’s international growth plan. The move follows its recent entry into Singapore and the launch of Capsule, its joint venture created to develop India’s first super-specialist healthcare events agency. The expansion reflects Medulla’s ambition to deliver healthcare communication solutions across key global markets.

The US operations will be led by consulting director Andrew Schirmer, a healthcare advertising specialist with more than 30 years of experience across networks such as WPP/Ogilvy, IPG/McCann and Omnicom. Schirmer has worked with healthcare companies, governments and NGOs, shaping communication strategies across multiple geographies and categories. His role will involve establishing Medulla’s footprint in the US and strengthening its capability to serve clients in the region.

Medulla will initially focus on health tech and consumer health brands in the US, offering full-funnel expertise from lead generation to long-term brand building. Schirmer says: "The era of health-tech brands and startups having to choose between market understanding and cost-effectiveness is over. Our model brings together the best of both worlds—US-based strategic leadership and India-based creative and digital execution that’s fast, technically sound, and cost-effective." The agency has already been partnering with US health-tech startups from its Mumbai office, providing digital consumer communication and performance-marketing support.

Founder Praful Akali notes that Schirmer’s appointment signals Medulla’s commitment to combining international experience with local insight as it invests in its US presence. Akali adds that the agency intends to help health tech brands strengthen purposeful connections with audiences. Under Akali’s leadership, Medulla has earned recognition at Cannes Lions and Effies for creativity and effectiveness, contributing to the growing presence of Indian healthcare advertising on the global stage.

Established in 2008, Medulla Communications has consistently been ranked among the top healthcare agencies worldwide, with accolades including Healthcare Agency of the Year at Cannes Lions in 2016 and a top-three global ranking between 2015 and 2017. The agency has also been recognised as the number four most effective independent agency by Effies and the number four most effective specialist agency by WARC.