Y&R, Taxi win Revlon's global creative biz

Y&R  WPP

Global - Revlon has hired the agency's London office and sister shop Taxi in New York to handle the cosmetics company's global creative business.

The hire came after a pitch that also included a team from Interpublic Group and David&Goliath. Total account revenue is estimated at USD7-9 million.

Previously, Revlon created ads in-house and through DDCD Partners (formerly William Morris Endeavor Marketing), which also forges deals between celebrities and brands. A current TV spot, "You Got Me Girl," features actress Jessica Biel and musician Pharrell Williams. 

Y&R's shared win comes after a string of account losses dating back to September that include the brand image piece of Sears, Bacardi, Office Depot, the public institution segment of Dell, MetLife and 7-Up. The WPP Group agency also is defending its global Accenture business.

Taxi entered the WPP fold in November, when Y&R Brands acquired the Toronto-based shop for an undisclosed sum. The agency also has offices in Calgary, Vancouver and Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Revlon initially invited Taxi and RKCR/Y&R-as Y&R's London office is known-to pitch as separate contenders, and subsequently they decided to team up. 

Revlon's move comes nine months after Julia Goldin, a veteran of Coca-Cola, joined the company as global chief marketing officer. Goldin spent 13 years at Coke, lastly as deputy chief marketing officer for Japan.

Revlon global media spending was not available. In the U.S. alone last year, media spending exceeded USD125 million-up from USD111 million in 2009, according to Nielsen. Those figures don't include online spending.

Adweek