The talks come amid uncertainty over the extent to which GSK will continue with the brand’s sponsorship of the BMW-Williams Formula 1 team.
A GSK Consumer Healthcare spokeswoman confirmed that a pitch process was scheduled, but would only say: ‘We have been looking at some bespoke projects [for NiQuitin CQ].’
Cohn & Wolfe is the retained agency for the brand and GSK insisted the agency’s grip on the account was not under threat.
The spokeswoman told PRWeek: ‘C&W is working with us long-term on the brand.’
She declined to comment on the reason for the pitch or brief up for grabs.
C&W is not, however, pitching. The agency said it declined to tender.
Since C&W replaced Munro & Forster as Ni-Quitin CQ’s retained agency last summer (PRWeek, 18 June 2003), the agency’s remit has shifted from consumer-edged work for the BMW-Williams link-up towards broader ‘healthcare education’ work such as the targeting of medical opinion formers.
