Bayer Consolidates Marketing With WPP and Omnicom Shops

Bayer HealthCare AG (BHC), a subsidiary of Bayer AG, said today it would consolidate its $850 million marketing communications budget under two holding company partners, Omnicom Group (NYSE:OMC) and WPP (NASDAQ:WPPGY).

“…we believe BHC will be able to realize savings in the range of 10%, while significantly improving the quality and effectiveness of all of our communications,” said Bayer HealthCare CEO Arthur Higgins in a statement.

No PR agencies were mentioned in the release sent to PRNewser, although one WPP agency said they’ll be picking up some business as a result of the decision. An Ogilvy PR rep told PRNewser that the agency “will definitely have work” including responsibility for “professional brands.”

Ogilvy PR has an existing relationship with the brand, the rep said.