who
we are
We are the
cross-cultural
and health equity
partner of the
Havas Health network.
Collaboration is at the forefront of all we do. As part of Havas, the world’s largest healthcare marketing network, we garner global access to talent, resources, and scale.
Brands seek our unique expertise to create and maintain meaningful relationships with underserved audiences and become agents for change in health equity.
meaningful
Inspired by
the universal
human desire
to live a longer,
healthier life.
We’re driving health equity with a meaningful approach, led by data and cross-cultural integration.
We build Meaningful Brands™ that inspire us to feel more positive about our health, ourselves, and each other — brands that are inclusive and relevant for ALL.
our
purpose
purpose
With diverse
groups driving the
population growth,
the face of the U.S.
has changed.
We deliver a deeper and broader cultural understanding, giving brands a data-driven edge through customized health and wellness programs that foster brand equity by effectively engaging with diverse audiences.
health
equity
Removing hurdles
on the road to
health equity.
Together, addressing systematic issues that drive health inequities for minorities.
Health disparities have long affected underserved groups who are disproportionately impacted by social determinants. Representation, healthcare access, health literacy, bias, language proficiency, trust and cultural competence are all barriers that must be addressed to foster health equity.
Multicultural groups are driving the U.S. population growth but they continue to be disproportionately affected by health disparities.
Cross-cultural programs and communications that foster health equity are imperative for healthcare and pharma brands.
what we do
capabilities that create change
Multicultural Competence
Cultural
Relevance Tool
Community Partnership
Cross-Cultural Marketing Engagement
Global Patient Recruitment + Retention
Breast Cancer Awareness
Breast Cancer Awareness
I AM HER
Campaign’s authentic and inclusive storytelling approach raises awareness and increases mammogram screening rates
Despite the harsh fact that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her life, healthcare providers still struggle to convince women to undergo a breast cancer screening, especially those aged 40 and above.
We‘ve dented that statistic with the transformative I AM HER mammogram campaign created in collaboration with Baptist Health. In researching the issue, we discovered that consumers trust brands more when they can relate to authentic human stories that resonate with their experiences.
I AM HER strategically amplifies survivors from different ethnicities and backgrounds and gives them a platform to share their experiences – in their words and preferred language (English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole). The campaign has proven to foster trust and connection and, more importantly, save lives, triggering a remarkable 17% increase in screenings at Baptist Health.
Leadership
Humanity drives our purpose.
Vanessa Bolaños
Managing Director
Vanessa brings over 15 years of multicultural consumer brand marketing experience to her role as Managing Director of Republica Havas Health, Havas Health & You’s NMSDC minority-certified health equity and cross-cultural health & wellness marketing partner in the U.S. Vanessa, a boomerang, rejoined Republica Havas Group in 2019 to lead our growing health and wellness team.
Her passion for health is fueled by creating true impact in underserved communities while supporting brands focus on reducing healthcare disparities within culturally diverse and underserved communities.
Throughout her career, she has been a strategic business partner to numerous Fortune 500 brands in the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. She was the global and national business consumer lead for clients such as KFC, General Mills, the Miami Marlins, Nestlé, COPA Airlines, Florida Blue and PepsiCo.
She brings a proven track record of business growth through cross-cultural strategic partnerships with healthcare clients like, Boehringer Ingelheim, Lilly, Amgen, Biogen, Sanofi, Regeneron, AbbVie and Pfizer, to name a few.
Vanessa earned her bachelor’s in Advertising Communications in Universidad IberoAmericana in the Dominican Republic where she was born. She continued to earn her master’s degree in Global brand communications from the Istituto Europeo di Design in Milan, Italy, where she lived for five years.
Eirasmín Lokpez-Cobo
Executive Vice President,
Brand Strategy &
Consumer Insights
Eirasmin is a powerhouse Latina with over twenty years of experience as a Cross-cultural Brand Strategist building brand equity for Fortune 500/Fortune Global 500 brands. She is a change agent who works closely with corporations and non-profit organizations to address health disparities in multicultural communities, a bestselling author, and guest speaker in national conferences. We
She is Executive Vice President of Brand Strategy and Consumer Insights at República Havas Health, where she heads the strategy behind cross-cultural marketing and community programs that empower brands to address health disparities.
Eirasmin has a proven trajectory in brand strategy across multiple categories for industry leading brands, such as: Walmart, Air Wick, White Claw, Volkswagen, SONY, Bank of America, Kraft, DHL, Hewlett-Packard, and MasterCard among many others.
She has dedicated the last fourteen years of her career to impacting the health of underserved patients through corporate and community programs. Some examples of her pharma and healthcare Client roster include Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur, Regeneron, Amgen, Merck, Biogen, Eisai, Otsuka, Lundbeck, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Baptist Health, and the American Heart Association.
Eirasmin is also a passionate community activist and industry leader. She is the proud Founder & Director of the Wellness for Growth Foundation, co-author of the Amazon Best Seller “Extraordinary Latinas: Breaking the Narrative and Redefining our Power,” has been a guest speaker at multiple national Communications and Health & Wellness Conferences, taught Brand Management at Florida International University’s Master’s in Marketing program, and was recognized as a 2024 MM+M Women of Distinction.
Chanelle Church
VP, Social Impact & Partnerships, Republica Havas Health
Chanelle is a results-driven and passionate social impact leader who brings more than 15 years of experience and savviness to the table when it comes to cultivating partnerships with brands, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and community stakeholders to advance health equity initiatives.
As a steadfast advocate for health equity, Chanelle has led efforts to engage corporations in meaningful initiatives that address health disparities and promote equitable access to healthcare. She has also worked to tackle critical global health issues throughout her career, including maternal health, breast cancer and AIDS. It was through organizations like Every Mother Counts, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and (RED) that she was able to work closely with corporate partners to develop high-impact CSR programs, making a tangible difference in the communities they served. Her corporate partner portfolio includes brands such as The Estée Lauder Companies, Delta Airlines, Ulta Beauty, and Blizzard Entertainment. There is no doubt that she has a true gift for harnessing the power of partnerships for social good, ensuring that everyone has the right to thrive.
Chanelle earned her B.A. in Political Science from New York’s Stony Brook University, which likely contributes to her strategic approach to partnerships – emphasizing transparency, accountability, and value creation. We know she will shine in this newly created role.
Karla Krüger
Growth Managing Director,
New York
Karla is a seasoned marketing pro with more than 20 years of experience. Before landing at Republica Havas, she gained invaluable knowledge by consulting and collaborating at major advertising agencies, including Publicis Groupe, DDB Worldwide, FCB Chicago, McCann Worldgroup, and others. In her decades of experience, she turned strategic and collaborative marketing initiatives into award-winning work for influential global brands such as The Clorox Company, Wendy’s, Nestlé, The Home Depot, Pfizer, State Farm, Cadbury Adams, American Express, CVS, P&G, the U.S. Army, Mars, and Walmart.
Fluent in English and Spanish, and Portuñol as needed, Karla is from Nicaragua and raised in the U.S. and Colombia (don’t let her German last name fool you!). She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design and Business at the University of Texas at Austin, and a Master’s in Advertising and Marketing at Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrery (ITESM).
Karla currently resides in New York City with her English husband and their son. When she’s not at the global head offices of Havas Health & You (unleashing growth for brands from multicultural audiences), you’ll find her indulging in her many passions that include art, culture, travel, fashion, and photography.
Jorge A. Plasencia
Co-Founder, Chairman
& CEO, Republica Havas /
Global Chief Client Officer,
Havas Creative Network
As Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Republica Havas and Global Chief Client Officer for the Havas Creative Network, Jorge has spearheaded brand and marketing strategies for some of the world’s most recognizable companies, including Walmart, Toyota, Sanofi, Google, and Diageo, to name a few. Over his career, his leadership has enabled brands to expand their reach while authentically engaging audiences, reflecting Jorge and his team’s expertise in delivering impactful, culturally resonant solutions.
Before Republica Havas, Jorge’s career spanned leadership roles in media, sports, and entertainment. At Univision, he led its top-rated national radio network, and at Estefan Enterprises, he helped manage the careers of global superstars such as Gloria Estefan and Shakira. He also made history as the first Director of Hispanic Marketing for a U.S. professional sports franchise with the Florida Marlins, a role that earned him the distinction of Hispanic Marketer of the Year.
Throughout his career, Jorge has earned numerous accolades, including Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, CEO of the Year from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, and Ultimate CEO by the South Florida Business Journal. These honors underscore his lasting influence across multiple industries.
A recognized leader beyond business, Jorge serves as Board Chair of the Miami Dade College Foundation. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations and Florida Council of 100, he holds board positions at PBS, the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and the Aspen Institute’s Latinos and Society Program.
At just 17, Jorge co-founded Amigos For Kids, a nonprofit organization serving under-resourced children and families. His commitment to philanthropy has earned him the March of Dimes Humanitarian of the Year Award, among other recognitions, for his lifelong dedication to community service.
A Miami Dade College Hall of Fame inductee, Jorge earned a bachelor’s degree with honors from Barry University and completed the Advanced Management Executive Program at the Kellogg School of Management.
Luis Casamayor
Co-Founder, Creative Chairman
& President
Luis Casamayor has more than 20 years experience in integrated marketing, advertising, and design, and has led Republica Havas to earn numerous national and international creative awards.
Before co-founding our agency in 2006, Luis was the president of Cosmyk, a design and creative agency he first started in 1994 as a graphic design studio. By 2001, the company had evolved into a full-service marketing agency offering additional services such as broadcast advertising, media and interactive. He built Cosmyk into one of the premier Miami-based creative agencies, acclaimed for its breakthrough campaigns.
Over the years, Luis has provided clients with fresh thinking, dedication and a true understanding of business objectives. His deep relationships with creative partners in all relevant areas, including multimedia production, film, printing, and photography as well as event marketing allow the agency’s award-winning campaigns to be executed at the highest level.
Named a Global Agency Innovator by The Internationalist, Luis’ passion for his clients comes to life in Republica Havas’ award-winning work for many brands, including Walmart, Toyota, Google, Baptist Health, Universal Orlando Resort, BankUnited, NBCUniversal and the Gates Foundation, to name a few.
Luis has served as a judge for numerous creative competitions, including the Media Mind Rich Media Awards in New York City. He serves as the advisory board member of the Florida International University (FIU) College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts, and also as a member of Civic Nation’s Creative Alliance, the Art Directors Club, and the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA).
Anthony Bianco
Chief Operating Officer
As Chief Operating Officer, Anthony drives enhanced efficiency, collaboration and growth across our organization’s four divisions – Creative, Health & Wellness, Media, and Experiences. Previously our Executive Vice President and General Manager, he has been instrumental in driving our agency’s consistent annual growth since joining Republica Havas in 2016.
Earlier in his career, Anthony held leadership roles at several of Madison Avenue’s top marketing and communications agencies, such as Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal and Partners and Berlin Cameron, and successfully managed a prestigious client portfolio that includes Walmart, Tommy Hilfiger, Citi, Dom Pérignon, Toyota, Coca-Cola, LVMH, Santa Margherita Wines, and Comcast, among others. Most recently, he was Managing Partner of New York City’s Naked Communications where he worked with major brands like ABSOLUT, Virgin Atlantic, eBay, and Mount Gay Rum.
A graduate of Keene State College, Anthony became the youngest member of the North American World Cup Snowboard Team in 1989 — sponsored simultaneously by Oakley, Life’s A Beach brand, and LOOK snowboards.
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expert insight
The Hidden Divide: Examining Inequities in Healthcare Provider Training and Practices provides insight into the overlooked systemic disparities perpetuated in healthcare provider (HCPs) training and practices, and the pivotal role of HCPs in alleviating health inequities for underserved groups as the main patient-facing and frontline sentinels of healthcare
expert insight
Equity in Action: Mapping the Multicultural Patient Journey for Inclusive Strategies. Download Republica Havas Health's latest white paper in collaboration with M3MI, that offers insight into systemic barriers and health related behaviors for Hispanics, African Americans, and Asian Americans across the patient journey and provides thought starters to connect with them through culturally relevant strategies.
