Anglo-American pharmaceutical colossus GlaxoSmithKline has switched all its business out of Ogilvy & Mather’s New York office, terminating a long-time relationship between the shop and its former client Glaxo Welcome.
Citing last year’s mega-merger of SmithKline Beecham with Glaxo as one reason for the firing, GSK spokesperson Malesia Dunn explained: “We wanted to look at some consolidation and make sure we had the right support on various brands.”
Moving house effective January 2002 are Citrucel high-fiber powder (CMR-estimated billings in 2000: $10 million), now en route to Arnold Worldwide in Boston; oral healthcare products Sensodyne ($5m) and Super Poligrip ($5m) switch to the New York and London offices of Grey Worldwide; Phazyme ($5m) migrates to the Dallas office of Publicis; while Balmax ($5m) is handed to New York’s The Masterson Group/Creative Advertising Solutions.
No decision has been announced about a destination for over-the-counter sleeping aid Alluna, nor if the account will be put up for grabs.
GlaxoSmithKline earlier this year awarded its US media planning and buying duties to Grey Worldwide's sibling MediaCom [WAMN:16-Mar-01 ].
News source: AdWeek.com
