According to Ashutosh Khanna, Grey India senior vice-president, the agency won the corporate part of the Indian Oil account, following a pitch involving 90 other agencies.
"We presented a pitch with our credentials, strategy and creative. At the moment there are changes on the client's side so we are not sure exactly which part (of the business) has been chosen for us. Because this is a public sector company, all agencies were invited to pitch if they wanted, said Khanna.
Indian Oil was previously handled by J. Walter Thompson for the past three years.
Under the Ranbaxy assignment, Grey will handle four over-the-counter products, including Revital, a multivitamin and multi-mineral 'energiser'; and Gasdip, a digestive.
"The company plans to move some of its prescription products and convert them to over the counter brands. The company did something similar about a decade ago. We will be handling the branding, repackaging and the advertising, said Khanna. "You have to rely heavily on support from doctors for pharmaceutical advertising, so one of the challenges will be retaining doctors as advocates of the brand."
