Grey wins UK Ciba Vision business

Grey London is understood to have won the UK advertising account for Novartis-owned Ciba Vision, an ophthalmic company which sells contact lenses to the public directly. The account is estimated to be worth &£3m.

Novartis recently announced it had realigned its advertising agency roster, appointing Grey London and Saatchi & Saatchi to handle its over-the-counter (OTC) medicines business, which includes athlete’s foot treatment Lamisil. The account was previously handled by local agencies in different markets. Euro RSCG handled the business in the UK.

Ciba Vision is based in the US and distributes products to more than 70 countries. It researches, develops and manufactures optical and ophthalmic products and services, including contact lenses, care products, ophthalmic surgical products and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals.

Pharmaceuticals and consumer health company Novartis manufactures brands including the painkiller Voltarol and quit-smoking aid Nicotinell.

It is based in Switzerland and employs about 81,000 people in over 140 countries. Last year, group sales were $28bn (&£15.7bn), generating a net income of $5.8bn (&£3.2bn).