Ruder Finn Acquires RLA Collective to Expand Integrated Marketing and Analytics Expertise

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Jul 30, 2018, 08:00 ET

NEW YORK, July 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ruder Finn announced today that it has acquired RLA Collective, a sales-driven integrated marketing agency specializing in health and wellness, including over-the-counter (OTC), nutritional supplement and medical device brands in North America. With more than two decades in the consumer and pet health sectors, RLA has developed and executed customized marketing campaigns – that blend the latest in digital advertising technologies with traditional tactics – for new and heritage brands sold at major drug, mass market and online retailers, including Amazon and brand-owned e-commerce. The acquisition will further enhance Ruder Finn's established, decades-long foundation in the health industry.

"Ruder Finn has a deep heritage and renowned reputation in its healthcare expertise – from establishing franchise positions for companies to launching ground-breaking brands, to changing the way healthcare businesses approach and change cultures," says Kathy Bloomgarden, CEO of Ruder Finn. "The acquisition of RLA Collective will enhance our integrated healthcare marketing offerings, utilizing the latest in digital marketing technologies to reach niche health consumers."

RLA Collective specializes in end-to-end product marketing, from research and strategic competitive positioning, to creative content development and execution of key brand engagement strategies, such as social media marketing, micro-influencers, geo-targeted retailer campaigns and AI digital advertising that can be measured against real-time sales data. RLA Collective has worked with heritage OTC and supplement name brands, such as Balmex, Cold-EEZE, Curad, PediaCare, Sea-Band and Viactiv to Oxy Skincare, Lanacane, ROHTO Eye Drops, Certain Dri, Cystex, Vagisil, and Cepacol, as well as many new brand introductions.

Robin Russo, Founder, CEO and Partner, and Alyson O'Mahoney, President and Partner, at RLA Collective will remain on staff as co-Managing Directors at Ruder Finn. RLA will bring a team of 11 people (including Russo and O'Mahoney) to Ruder Finn, and a wealth of OTC industry contacts, including those in the retail trade industry.

RLA Collective will continue to be based in Pleasantville, NY, but will also have space in Ruder Finn's New York office. They will use the name RLA Collective, a Ruder Finn Company.

"RLA has incubated some of the latest technologies and platforms for optimized OTC brand marketing that can be tied to sales," says Robin Russo. "We are thrilled to bring our deep understanding of and success in marketing OTC products, including, FDA/FTC/HIPAA-compliant, sales-driven marketing strategies to Ruder Finn, with its many advanced resources and prestigious global healthcare client roster and expertise. We are looking forward to doing great things together."

Last year, Ruder Finn announced a new healthtech specialty practice as well as, BEACON, a proprietary analytics tool that combines real-time social listening with real-world data. Today's announcement further enhances Ruder Finn's growth in both the healthcare and technology/digital space.

About Ruder Finn
Ruder Finn, Inc. is one of the world's largest independent global communications and creative agencies with dual headquarters in the United States and China. Founded in 1948, Ruder Finn serves the global and local communication needs of over 250 corporations, governments, not-for-profit organizations, and start-ups. The agency is organized around four strategic pillars that reflect its core areas of expertise: Health & Wellness, Corporate Reputation & Transformation, Technology & Innovation, and Consumer Connections. RFI Studios, the agency's full-service digital practice, leads the industry in designing and developing internal collaboration platforms, building conversations, and communities around brands, and staying top-of-mind in the world of mobile applications. For more information, visit www.ruderfinn.com.

About RLA Collective
RLA Collective was founded in 1986 by Robin Russo, an award-winning consumer healthcare (CHC) communications expert. RLA Collective is one of the only integrated marketing agencies completely devoted to the non-Rx side of healthcare for both humans and pets. Their specialty includes self-medicating health and wellness brands sold at brick and mortar, as well as online. It was the first agency in the US to use its current Artificial-Intelligence-driven digital ad platform for targeting health consumers across a variety of online ad platforms. RLA Collective is an associate member of Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) for the past 13 years, and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), fully engaging in the OTC/supplement community, developing strategies targeted to not only consumers, but HCPs, influencers and retailers. For more information, visit RLA Collective.

Media Contact
Sarah Coles
Ruder Finn
212.593.6393
[email protected]

SOURCE Ruder Finn