Highland Marketing welcomes two new industry advisors

Highland Marketing, the UK’s premier healthcare IT communications and marketing specialists, have welcomed on board two leading healthcare industry figures. Jeremy Nettle and Ravi Kumar both have a detailed knowledge of the sector, and a close understanding of the importance of marketing and communications to business success.

Jeremy is chairman of the Intellect healthcare group, representing over 260 suppliers, previously European director for Oracle Corporation Healthcare, and chairman of Image Analysis. Ravi is the chairman of ZANEC Software Technologies and was previously CTO and executive director, Product Strategy at iSOFT. Both are deeply committed to the healthcare IT industry as a means of providing better, more sustainable healthcare.

Jeremy said: “Highland Marketing has ambition and style. We share a view that, in a highly competitive market, success demands presence. So whether it is a new company, or an existing one, it‘s essential to use marketing and communications to make customers aware of what you offer.”

In a market where purchasers are spending public money and where resources are tight, he also believes it is essential to use marketing to promote trust.

“It’s important for companies to take a fully rounded approach to marketing and communications, and go beyond the specific product or the individual campaign. They have to develop a strong brand which will be recognised and trusted. The best way to achieve that is to work with specialists who have the skills and contacts to raise awareness among the people they need to influence,” added Jeremy.

Ravi played a key role in building iSOFT from a start-up into the world’s third largest independent healthcare software vendor, with revenues above $450m. He will now use his experience as a highly successful entrepreneur, and his encyclopaedic knowledge of healthcare IT products and companies, to help with Highland Marketing’s growth strategy. He is especially interested in the potential of new and emerging media as a means for healthcare IT companies to create direct relationships with customers.

“Marketing and communications are being transformed by social media and the internet. The audience for traditional media, such as newspapers and magazines, remain important but are fragmenting. Highland Marketing helps healthcare IT companies make potent use of all the exciting opportunities which now exist to get effective messages to existing and potential customers.”

“Nowadays one of the most important approaches to marketing is in developing direct relationships with small groups of customers, with individual organisations, or with specific members of those organisations. Highland Marketing understands the importance of imaginative approaches to marketing and communications both to gain a competitive edge and to develop mutually beneficial relationships with customers.”
Highland Marketing operates to promote healthcare IT companies in the UK and internationally. Each member of its 14-strong team has extensive and relevant experience in their field.

Mark Venables, CEO, said: “It’s a privilege to have two such well-respected and experienced figures as Jeremy and Ravi working with us as industry advisors. Highland Marketing is a well-established company which acts for many highly successful clients. We are rapidly expanding in the UK and abroad and are convinced that the support, advice and expertise that Jeremy and Ravi can provide will be invaluable in the next phase of our growth strategy.”