Oren Frank, Co-Founder of Online Therapy Platform Talkspace, Dies at 61

Oren Frank, co-founder of the online mental health platform Talkspace and former CEO of McCann Erickson Israel, passed away in the United States at age 61. He died less than a year after being diagnosed with brain cancer. Frank is survived by his wife Roni and their daughters, Shelly and Maya. Roni Frank shared a heartfelt tribute on Facebook, recalling their 30-year partnership and his drive to create something meaningful through Talkspace. She described his battle with cancer as dignified and without drama.

Before founding Talkspace, Frank held senior roles in advertising, joining McCann in 1997 as creative vice president. After a stint in London as McCann Europe’s creative VP, he returned to Israel in 2001 as co-CEO alongside Shira Margalit. Under their leadership, McCann became a leading agency in Israel, with Frank playing a key role in shaping its creative and strategic culture. In 2006, he took charge of McCann’s digital division, transforming it into one of Israel’s top digital firms within two years.

Frank lived in the U.S. for the past 18 years, where he and his wife launched Talkspace, a platform connecting patients with psychologists and psychiatrists via video and chat. The company primarily operates through health insurance and employee benefit programs. In 2021, the couple led Talkspace’s $1.4 billion merger with a Wall Street SPAC. Recently, Talkspace shifted focus to partnerships with insurers and employers. In 2025, the platform delivered over 1.6 million treatments and generated $229 million in revenue. In March 2024, Universal Health Services announced plans to acquire Talkspace for $835 million, with the deal expected to close in Q3 2026.

McCann CEO Amit Mashiach described Frank as charismatic, sharp, and humorous, with a kind heart beneath his cynicism. He called Frank’s passing a great loss and said, "McCann would not be McCann without Oren."