Merger means
the end of one
of advertising’s
oldest names
WPP today announced that Wunderman and J. Walter Thompson will unite to form Wunderman Thompson, a creative, data and technology agency built to inspire growth for its clients.
According to a statement on WPP’s website, the new entity will be, “distinctively positioned as a provider of end-to-end solutions – through creative, data, commerce, consulting and technology services – at a global scale.”
The newly formed agency will be led by Global Chief Executive Officer Mel Edwards, who is currently the Global CEO of Wunderman. Tamara Ingram, CEO of J. Walter Thompson, will become Chairman.
Because Wunderman and JWT share many core clients, who will now have simpler access to the expertise of both agencies. And, as technology reshapes marketing, Wunderman Thompson will also capitalize on close and long-standing partnerships with Adobe, Amazon, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Salesforce and SAP.
Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: “Wunderman Thompson is a formidable combination, bringing together the capabilities our clients are demanding – award-winning creativity alongside deep expertise in technology, data and commerce – in a single organization.
“Clients want greater simplicity from their partners and this development, like others at WPP, is designed to reshape our company around their needs.
“It’s great news for our clients that we can combine the best of JWT and Wunderman in a single agency, and it’s great news for WPP as it allows us to compete more effectively in the sectors with the most significant opportunities for future growth.”
Mel Edwards, Global Chief Executive Officer, Wunderman Thompson, said in the same statement, “To achieve transformative outcomes, clients today need inspiration that is rooted in data-driven insight. I’m really excited to be able to deliver that within one agency. Wunderman Thompson offers precisely what clients want: brilliant creativity, expertise in data and sophisticated technology skills. I couldn’t be more honoured to lead this new organisation and its exceptional people.”
Tamara Ingram, Chairman, Wunderman Thompson, added, “Both JWT and Wunderman have been built by the commitment of many talented people, whose combined capabilities will further distinguish us in the market. Coming together was a decision driven by the opportunity to better serve our clients, expand our offering and create an agency effectively positioned for the future. As Wunderman Thompson we will deliver world-class services in every geography, and work that is more meaningful and more impactful than ever.”
Right now, there is no estimate as to how many jobs will be lost by the merger. Wunderman Thompson will be an agency of more than 20,000 people in 90 markets. It will be fully operational in early 2019 and will be headquartered in New York and London.
Source: WPP
