BOSTON — FleishmanHillard’s Boston office is officially bringing fellow Omnicom agency LPP into the fold through a merger that will boost the agency’s healthcare and tech expertise.

The combined office will operate under the FleishmanHillard name. John Isaf, who is a FleishmanHillard senior VP and senior partner as well as Boston general manager, will lead the expanded operation, the agency said.  LPP managing director Melissa Zipin will become a FleishmanHillard senior VP and senior partner and be part of the office’s leadership team.

Given LPP’s specialty in healthcare and technology, the merger will give FleishmanHillard Boston capabilities across sectors including those that the Boston office traditionally serves — B2B, consumer, higher education and crisis communications among them.

While the merger will formalize the integration of the two firms, FleishmanHillard and LPP have been working together since 2000, collaborating on a number of projects. The firms already share an address, where they will remain.

“Boston is a critical market to FleishmanHillard and bringing these two teams together will provide superior counsel and fully integrated communications that mirrors the industry sector opportunities and needs of clients here,” Isaf said. “What’s most exciting is the caliber of our people and depth of resources and expertise – including creative, content, social and crisis capabilities – our new team can deliver to not only Boston-based clients, but those brands that are increasing their presence in Boston.”