SAN FRANCISCO — Independent PR agency network W2O Group has added veteran biopharma exec John H. Johnson and healthcare marketing leader Charlene Prounis to its board of directors.

Johnson brings more than 30 years experience in the pharma and biotech industries, including senior executive roles for Johnson & Johnson and other notable companies. He currently serves on the boards of several emerging biopharmaceutical companies. 

For more than three decades, meanwhile, Prounis has served in senior healthcare communications and marketing roles, while advocating for women in the industry. After spending her early career at Grey Healthcare Group, she launched Accel and Flashpoint Medica, both acquired by Omnicom. She also served as board member for the Medical Advertising Hall of Fame. 

"I'm really excited to have advisors who know both the client and agency sides of the business. They're idea advisors to help penetrate clients at a deeper level and find more meaningful ways to impact our business," said W2O founder and CEO Jim Weiss. 

Weiss said Johnson and Prounis bring business insights, industry access, network exposure and unmatched expertise to the team. He added that their direct relevant experience will be particularly applicable to healthcare, which currently makes up 75% of the agency's business. 

"Not only will I be able to give back through my experience, but I will be learning at the same time," added Johnson. "It's a very exciting time to be in this business and at W2O, it's growing substantially."

Prounis pointed to the agency's position in the industry. "If you think about where the agency world is going, it's going to take a new convergence of analytics, creative, technology, where to put the creative and how this all works together. W2O Group does that really well." 

Founded and led by CEO Jim Weiss in 2001, W2O Group includes WCG andTwist Mktg, along with three acquisitions made last year — Pure, Marketeching and Sentient. The group reported 33% growth in 2016, to revenue of $123m.