UNILEVER MERGES DIVISIONS
By Adnews Staff
Unilever PLC is merging its personal product divisions Lever Pond's and Helene Curtis. The move is not anticipated to have any effect on the marketing of the two divisions' brands. Unilever acquired Chicago-based Helene Curtis last March. Helene Curtis' Montreal facility will become the Lever Pond's hair care division. In Canada, the merger will result in the loss of approximately 50 jobs. Arthur P. Gonis, Lever Pond's Canadian president, told Adnews the move shouldn't have any impact on the marketing of the divisions' brands in Canada. "If we do it smartly, we shouldn't notice any changes," he said. Lever Pond's advertising is handled by the Canadian divisions of various multinational agencies, including J. Walter Thompson Co. Ltd., Ogilvy & Mather (Canada) Ltd., Ammirati Puris Lintas and MacLaren McCann Canada Inc., all of Toronto. DDB Needham Worldwide Ltd. of Toronto is the agency for Helene Curtis. Lever Pond's brands include Sunlight laundry detergent and dish soap, Dove, Lux and Caress soaps and Timotei shampoo. Salon Selectives and Organic Care shampoos are two of Helene Curtis' brands.