VML Health has announced a trio of appointments to its creative leadership team, with Mel Routhier (pictured middle) as global chief creative officer for health and wellness, Natxo Diaz (pictured right) as global head of health craft, and Khalid Latif (pictured left) as global executive creative director for Europe.
The announcement comes four months after WPP said it would be merging two of its major creative agencies, Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R, to create VML.
Routhier, who will also become a member of the VML Health senior leadership team, originally joined the company in 2020 as chief creative officer of the WPP Walgreens team and previously served as chief creative officer at VML Chicago, a title she will retain as part of her promotion.
Prior to joining the company, Routhier held roles of increasing responsibility at DDB, most recently serving as senior vice president, executive creative director. She has also held roles at TRISECT and Leo Burnett.
Diaz, who extends his role as global head of health craft, joined the company in 2021 as executive creative director of innovation and took on positions including chief creative officer and global creative board member. He has also previously held roles at Ogilvy Health, Matchpoint and Young & Rubicam.
Latif has been serving as the company’s executive creative director since 2022, following his previous role as senior vice president, creative director of health, EMEA at Weber Shandwick and stints at Publicis Health and Grey Group.
Routhier, assisted by Diaz and Latif, will lead a specialist creative team spanning three continents, including APAC, Europe and North America, the company outlined.
Debbi Vandeven, global chief creative officer of VML, said: “Having a team with such established health and FMCG creative brand management experience was important as we move forward with our connected vision for our health teams.”
“Our new healthcare creative team has a complete 360 perspective and I have no doubt that they will continue to deliver incredible award-winning work to all our clients,” Vandeven added.
Also commenting on the appointments, Routhier said: “Having built a strong cultural connection with our health teams already, I know we will be an unstoppable force.
“It’s an honour to be part of one of the most comprehensive health offerings in the world and we don’t intend to let a moment slip by without appreciating our teams, our clients, or the patient communities we serve.”