Pharmaceuticals giant Pfizer has recruited Interpublic and Publicis Groupe for its global creative and media duties.

The account, valued at $1.41bn, was the biggest account move in May-June and spans more than 30 markets, according to Campaign’s Advertising Intelligence.

Following the appointment of chief marketing officer Drew Panayiotou in August 2022, Pfizer put its global creative and media accounts up for review in February.

In May, Pfizer appointed IPG Health to lead creative and Publicis Collective to spearhead planning and buying, data, technology and creative production.

The US was allocated the biggest portion of the account, representing about $1.11bn, or 79% of the global total.

Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific portion of the business was worth $226.3m, representing 16% of the total. China was the biggest market here with its share worth $122.5m.

Pfizer previously worked with several agencies globally, including Dentsu’s Carat and iProspect for media, and WPP’s bespoke unit Team Pfizer for creative.

US dominates top media moves

Overall, global media new-business activity reached $4.18bn in May-June.

Aside from Pfizer, there were a further four key moves, all in the US.

Beverage company Constellation Brands switched from independent shop Horizon Media for Interpublic, awarding Initiative its $331m brief.

Meanwhile, luxury retailer LVMH traded in Dentsu X for Publicis, picking Zenith for its $330.8m account.

Pharmaceuticals company Bristol Myers Squibb parted ways with Havas Media and chose Interpublic’s Mediabrands for its $314m business.

Lastly, retailer Sam’s Club recruited Horizon Media for its $217m account. The incumbent was fellow independent Haworth Marketing & Media.

Despite these key moves, May-June 2022 was more active in value terms at $4.76bn – 12% higher than the same period this year.

Creative billings climb by 42%

On the creative front, global new-business billings reached $3.61bn in May-June.

In addition to Pfizer, there were three further major moves, all scooped by Publicis and valued at more than $100m apiece.

Publicis.Poke won a global project for a healthcare company worth $161.8m. Meanwhile, Digitas secured a spot on the roster of a consumer goods business in Colombia, with the brief worth $131.4m. Finally, MSL won a car brand in China valued at $110m.

Elsewhere, tech retailer Currys selected MSL for its $81.5m UK brief, while French skincare brand L’Occitane picked Omnicom’s BBDO for its $35m account in Japan.

With the huge Pfizer review, creative new business during May-June was up 42% compared with a year earlier ($2.54bn).

Publicis leads “big six”

Overall, Publicis was the most active of the “big six” holding groups in May-June, accounting for $2.73bn in global new-business billings.

Interpublic was behind it with $2.34bn. Another key win for Interpublic was UM’s capture of the $53m global remit for food company Upfield.

Meanwhile, sister creative shop FCB picked up the international brief for Intuit QuickBooks. According to Campaign AI, billings in the US is estimated at $30m and the UK $4m.

WPP was in third position with $664.5m. The capture of automotive brand Mazda was the biggest win for the company, with Mindshare winning the $90m US planning and buying brief. Meanwhile, Wavemaker picked up media for personal care giant Reckitt in India valued at $88m. Dentsu X was the incumbent.

Independent agencies also had a good run in May-June, collectively responsible for $886.8m.

Horizon Media stood out here – in addition to Sam’s Club in the US, the shop also picked up retailer Bob’s Discount Furniture in the US, valued at $129m.

Campaign Advertising Intelligence tracks global new business and works with COMvergence on media wins and R3 on creative wins.

This article originally appeared on Campaign US.