Reckitt Benckiser and Facebook announce new comms partnership

Reckitt Benckiser has allied with Facebook on a major new partnership that will make it easier for the company to engage with consumers digitally.

The multi-year nine-figure global partnership will see the two companies integrating members of their global sales, marketing and creative teams to help connect Facebook users with Reckitt Benckiser brands such as Lysol, Mucinex, MegaRed and Air Wick.

Dedicated teams from both companies will work together initially in the US, UK, Canada, Italy, Brazil, India and Australia, with rapid expansion of the relationship expected over the next three years.

Moreover, the firms will join forces on recruitment, with joint hiring events to be held at key universities as part of a commitment to bringing in the best talent for both companies.

Heather Allen, Reckitt Benckiser's executive vice-president for category development, said: "We will continue to innovate to drive our businesses together and to bring about healthier lives and happier homes for consumers around the world."

This comes after the firm – which achieved three percent year-on-year growth in the first half of 2014 – announced last month that it will be creating a new state-of-the-art research and development centre in the north of England.