Healthcare Marketing Veteran Marc Lanouette to Retire from Grey Health
Marc Lanouette, global CEO of Grey Health and founder of TANK Worldwide, has revealed his retirement. A prominent figure in the Canadian marketing industry for over 30 years, Marc’s tenure is defined by a remarkable era of growth, innovation, and international expansion that has helped shape the landscape of healthcare marketing and communications. Mario Muredda, who joined Ogilvy Health as global CEO in 2024, will take on expanded responsibilities overseeing all Health teams across The Ogilvy Group, encompassing Ogilvy Health, Grey Health, and TANK Worldwide, working closely with the senior leadership teams of each brand.
Marc began his career at Marion Merrell Dow before founding TANK. Under his leadership, TANK evolved from a boutique medical communications agency in Montreal into a full-service global operation, expanding to include offices in Toronto, New York, and London. Following TANK’s acquisition by WPP in 2016, Marc played a pivotal role in expanding Grey’s health offering as global CEO of Grey Health, growing it across the agency’s 20 studios worldwide. Marc’s legacy includes partnering with the world's major pharmaceutical companies including GSK, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and AbbVie on critical global assignments, assembling high-performing teams to drive brand and product launches at local and global levels, and driving innovation in healthcare marketing through WPP Open, AI and technology-driven solutions. Marc is also a proud father of five and serves on the board of the Canada Olympic Alpine Ski Team, reflecting his passion for combining sport with brand storytelling.
Marc Lanouette remarked, “I am immensely proud of the groundbreaking work we've accomplished for our clients and the incredible business we’ve built together. What began as a boutique agency in Montreal brought me the opportunity to lead a robust global organisation known for using the power of creativity to deliver Famously Effective ideas for our clients. More than anything, this moment is a testament to the power of collaboration and relentless commitment by our teams, and I'm honoured to have played a role in their success. While I am stepping back to start a new chapter, I look forward to leveraging my experience to advise brands and businesses seeking to achieve transformative growth."
Michael Houston, president of the US for WPP and the former global CEO of Grey who led the acquisition of Tank in 2016, added, "Grey’s acquisition of Tank in 2016 was one of those rare M&A moments where strategy, culture, and leadership aligned perfectly. Marc didn’t just steward that alignment, he embodied it. What impressed us most at the time wasn’t just Tank’s track record in healthcare — it was Marc himself. We saw a leader who could scale without sacrificing soul, integrate global ambition without losing local identity, and acquire capability without disrupting kinship. That instinct proved right as under his leadership Grey pushed back against the category’s status quo with healthcare work that challenged norms. He is undoubtedly leaving Grey’s global healthcare offering stronger, braver, and more cohesive than he found it.”
Laurent Ezekiel, global CEO of The Ogilvy Group, said, "Marc is an entrepreneur whose leadership has been instrumental in the success and expansion of Grey’s healthcare marketing capabilities. His unwavering commitment to our clients, and dedication to fostering top-tier talent have left an indelible mark on Grey, WPP and the industry. He has our deepest gratitude for his profound contributions and wish him all the very best as he starts this next chapter. He’ll always be a part of our extended family. We are also lucky to have an exceptional leader in Mario who has driven considerable momentum over the past year, and I know will continue to deliver for our clients and teams in his expanded role."
