UM Retained As Media Buyer For J&J

Health care giant Johnson & Johnson has retained UM as its media buyer in North America., the client has confirmed.   

The company spent just over $1 billion on ads in the U.S. last year, according to Kantar Media. That was down 14% from the nearly $1.2 billion it spent the prior year, per Kantar.

J&J, which declined to comment on the review yesterday, issued the following statement today concerning the decision: “Johnson & Johnson has completed a review of media planning and buying agencies to support its North America businesses across our Consumer, Medical Device & Diagnostics, and Pharmaceutical sectors and will retain the incumbent agency, J3 (a Universal McCann/IPG company). 

"The review began several months ago with the objective of leveraging the company’s scale to identify cost savings and increase value. Johnson & Johnson has partnered with UM since 1973. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership.”

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WPP’s MEC and Omnicom’s OMD also participated in the review.

Word of the review in North America follows a separate media review -- for both planning and buying -- that the client wrapped up two weeks ago for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. J&J’s estimated annual spending in that region is said to be approximately $320 million.

There, J&J awarded the business to two shops, with the majority of it going to a new GroupM entity called Primus. UM was awarded a smaller portion. Carat had been the incumbent on the entire piece of business since 2007. 

 
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