JWT and Euro split £300m Reckitt brief

Reckitt Benckiser (RB) has handed its &£300m global advertising account – worth &£40m in the UK – to Havas Advertising’s Euro RSCG Worldwide and WPP Group’s J Walter Thompson (JWT).

Euro RSCG will be responsible for RB’s fabricand homecare products, which include Calgon, Vanish and Finish. JWT will handle surface care and health and personal care brands, which include Dettol, Lysol, Immac, Lemsip and Gaviscon.

Both agencies will manage their RB work from their London offices.

The final shortlist for the RB business included another WPP shop, Ogilvy & Mather (O&M). O&M handles Lever Fabergé’s toiletries business.

The appointment follows the end of RB’s relationship with McCann-Erickson in November, when Interpublic Group (IPG) acquired True North. This created a conflict with True North subsidiary FCB, which holds the SC Johnson account, covering Toilet Duck, Pledge and Mr Muscle.

McCann was the dominant network on the RB business after the company reduced its UK roster to two agencies last summer. The company ditched Havas’ WCRS from its Vanish account, which was later awarded to Chime-owned Roose & Partners (MW November 1, 2001).

JWT handles Boots’ business, including the company’s medicine range, but is understood to have reassured the retailer about any possible conflicts with over-the-counter RB products.