The cosmetics giant has hired IPG's Universal McCann and GroupM's MEC for its media planning and buying business, removing the incumbent Carat from the reported £200m account.

Carat have held the J&J account since 2007, but following a review last June, UM and MEC have won the business in a wrangle for Chrysalis' newest client.

According to Media Week:

GroupM is understood to have created a dedicated MEC-backed unit called Primus to house the account. Primus will handle France, Germany, Russia, Central and Eastern Europe.

In a statement Johnson & Johnson said: "The outcome of the comprehensive review is that we are consolidating our media planning and buying agencies for our consumer businesses and brands in EMEA from four to two.

"MEC and Universal McCann will begin their new contract with us, effective, January 1, 2013.  We will work closely with our agency partners over the next few months to ensure our brands have optimal support during the transition period."

Nielsen research suggests that Johnson & Johnson currently spends approximately £19 million on UK media and advertising, which includes brands such as Listerine, Nicorette, Immodium and Neutrogena.

The account represents something of a coup for McCann ahead of rival Carat.