• by Richard Whitman , Columnist, August 17, 2017

French pharma company Sanofi has selected a new batch of agency and holding company partners for both creative and media duties with WPP's Mindshare selected for global media chores after a review that began earlier this year, the companies have confirmed. 

It’s estimated that the pharmaceutical concern spends more than $1 billion on measured media annually.

ID Comms assisted Sanofi with the selection process.

Mindshare’s assignment includes most of the 60-plus markets where Sanofi operates but does not include the U.S., where it has a conflict or Japan. Previously the pharma company worked with Publicis Groupe media agency Zenith in most markets.

In the US, Havas has been appointed as media agency partner for the Rx business and will now also serve as the strategic media planning partner for the Consumer Healthcare business. KWG will remain the media buying agency partner for Consumer Healthcare. 

In Japan, Hakuhodo has been appointed as media agency partner for SSP Co., Sanofi's Consumer Healthcare business in the country.

On the creative side Publicis, Havas, and WPP have been appointed as key creative agency partners across all Sanofi business units. 

The pharma giant has had long-standing creative agency relationships with Publicis and Havas and is retaining both. The firm is adding WPP to its creative agency roster. Agencies within the holding company previously supported the Consumer Healthcare business of Boehringer Ingelheim that Sanofi took over earlier this year as part of an estimated $25 billion asset swap. 

Sanofi is organized into five global business units: Diabetes and Cardiovascular, General Medicines and Emerging Markets, Sanofi Genzyme, Sanofi Pasteur and Consumer Healthcare. Sanofi brands include Ambien, Allegra, Maalox and numerous others.

Sanofi said that transition arrangements for all agencies have commenced and will be completed by the fourth quarter of this year.

This story has been updated with additional input from the client.