The consumer health division of pharmaceuticals giant Bayer has appointed MullenLowe Group as a global agency partner after a pitch against a team from Omnicom, including Adam & Eve/DDB, that took place in Moscow.
From January, MullenLowe will be responsible for brand and digital strategy as well as creative development for Bayer Consumer Health’s global power brands Bepanthen, Berocca, Canesten, Elevit, Iberogast, Redoxon, Rennie and Supradyn.
The Interpublic network will also handle integrated campaigns, digital and content for Bayer Consumer Health products across EMEA. The account will be led by MullenLowe’s UK office.
J Walter Thomspon previously handled advertising for these accounts, creating campaigns including "Be more Berocca" for Berocca vitamin tablets.
Omnicom's BBDO will continue to work on certain other Bayer Consumer Health brands including Aspirin, Aleve and Claritin, a spokeswoman said. BBDO was also last week was appointed to a separate account in the company's US Crop Science division.
Patricia Corsi, global chief marketing and digital officer at Bayer Consumer Health, said: "The decision was based on a number of criteria, including strategic approach, creativity, expertise, ways of working and collaboration.
"These criteria were put to the test throughout the process, which ended in a ‘pitch in a day’ workshop that simulated the real-life creative process, from briefing to proposal to consumer testing. With MullenLowe Group, I am confident that we have a partner who will help us accelerate our modernised marketing approach."