J&J reveals global media changes

Global - Johnson & Johnson has completed its US$3 billion (S$4.55 billion) global media review, and its Asia Pacific duties have been divided between OMD and Interpublic Group (IPG) agencies, Initiative and Universal McCann (UM).

Named regional AOR. OMD will handle the China, Korea and Australia markets while IPG controls SE Asia and Japan. Initiative retains business in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia while UM handles Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam and Japan markets.

In the US, planning duties have been split between JWT, Naked, and Sandbox, while Carat has been appointed to Europe, Middle East and Africa. OMD is also AOR for Latin America.

The global review was announced 29 March and was the result of the company's acquisition of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare division in 2006. According to J&J, its objective was to enhance the effectiveness of brand communications and better leverage media investments in an increasingly diverse media landscape.

"Our goal was to get agencies and brands working together in a new way. The agencies that pitched for this business did an amazing job of presenting new and innovative approaches, and I'm pleased to say that together we will meet the challenges of engaging with today's consumers," Kimberly Kadlec, chief media officer, worldwide VP for Johnson & Johnson said in a statement.