Reckitt Benckiser appoints Euro RSCG and JWT
Tuesday 16th April 2002
Reckitt Benckiser appoints Euro RSCG and JWT
Reckitt Benckiser plc, the world's leading household cleaning company
(excluding laundry detergent) today announced the appointment of two global
creative advertising agencies, Euro RSCG Worldwide (part of Havas Sa) and J
Walter Thompson (part of WPP Group PLC).
Reckitt Benckiser has decided to consolidate all global creative business into
two world class agencies. These agreements will cover all creative services for
the five core categories in all countries worldwide, with Surface and Health &
Personal Care at JWT; and Fabric, Dishwashing and Homecare at Euro RSCG. The
company advertising spend is in excess of £300 million.
Commenting on the appointments, Elio Leoni Sceti, Executive Vice President
Category Development, said
'Reckitt Benckiser's track record is founded on a deep belief in the value and
power of our core brand equities. Our strategy of continuous innovation
supported by excellent consumer communication has served us well, and our
creative agency relationships play an important role in this success. Equity
advertising is a major engine of our growth and we believe that both Euro RSCG
and JWT will contribute greatly to this from their consumer and strategic
insights as well as their outstanding creativity and global reach. Both
agencies are equally excited by the prospect of being our partners as we seek
to achieve even more ambitious goals. We look forward to working with them
both.'
Reckitt Benckiser plc had net revenues in 2001 of £3.4 billion and net income
of £340 million. The Company owns many global brands, including such world
leaders as Lysol disinfectant cleaner, Dettol antiseptic, Woolite fine fabric
detergent, Calgon water softener, Calgonit and Finish automatic dishwashing
products, and Veet depilatories, together with Harpic lavatory care, Vanish
fabric treatment, Airwick and Wizard air care, Mortein pest control, Gaviscon
and Lemsip OTC drugs. The Company has operations in 60 countries worldwide and
sales in around 180 countries.
These advertising arrangements replace Reckitt Benckiser's prior global
agreement with McCann Erickson that will terminate in June 2002 following
conflicts of interest. This new agreement also replaces, with effect Dec 31st
2002, all existing local agreements that Reckitt Benckiser has in various
countries. Current media planning and buying arrangements are unaffected by
these appointments.
For further information
Tom Corran Reckitt Benckiser plc Tel +44 (0) 1753 217 800
SVP Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Reckitt Benckiser plc
Notes for Editors
Euro RSCG Worldwide, the world's fifth largest advertising agency network, is a
global network of 221 agencies located in 75 countries throughout Europe, North
America, Latin America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. The Network's client
roster includes Intel Corporation, WorldCom, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Danone Group,
Air France, Yahoo! And LVMH. Heaquartered in New York, Euro RSCG Worldwide is
the largest unit of Havas, the world's fifth largest communications group.
J Walter Thompson, part of the WPP Group, is one of the largest advertising
agency groups in the world, operating in 311 offices in 90 countries. Its
worldwide billings are $10.8bn. In Europe, Middle East and Africa JWT now
operates in 50 countries with billings of $3.6bn. The client roster includes
Boots, Nestle, KPMG, Rolex and De Beers.
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