17 October 2000

Saatchi & Saatchi Join Iams

Iams have announced the assignment of global advertising responsibility for its Iams and Eukanuba dog and cat food brands to Saatchi & Saatchi. The account will be managed by the agency's New York office and has been effective since 27 September. Iams, headquartered in Dayton, was acquired by P&G in August. This marked P&G's entry into the global pet health and nutrition market. Iams and Eukanuba are leaders in the premium segment of that market. In June, Iams announced it was beginning a search for a new advertising agency. W. B. Doner, based in Southfield, Michigan, previously handled advertising for those brands. "Iams and Eukanuba are already strong brands, with a loyal consumer following," said Jeffrey P. Ansell, President of The Iams Company, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of P&G. "We're delighted to partner with Saatchi & Saatchi to further build the equity and global presence of these brands. Saatchi's capability and strong track record in helping build P&G's brands make them an excellent choice." "We're thrilled," said Kevin Roberts, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi. "Iams and Eukanuba have tremendous growth potential. Our entire agency has ignited with enthusiasm over this assignment. In fact, I never knew we had so many dog and cat lovers. We're eager to work with The Iams Company to create terrific new advertising for these brands." The Iams Company was founded in 1946. Eukanuba Dog and Cat Foods, Iams Dog and Cat Foods, along with Eukanuba Veterinary Diets, are marketed in 77 countries.