WPP is merging design corporations Design Bridge and Superunion to create what it calls a “single world-leading design firm,” Design Bridge and Companions. Superunion itself is the consequence a 2018 merger between WPP design retailers Model Union, The Companions, Lambie-Nairn and Addison.
WPP just lately merged large media store MediaCom with Essence to type EssenceMediacom, with Essence seemingly within the driving seat. It has additionally created merged VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson and folded Gray into AKQA Group.
John Morris, CEO of Design Bridge and Companions, says; “It’s completely incredible to have the ability to convey collectively two inventive powerhouses in design. Marrying the ‘better of each’, Design Bridge and Companions can be actually formidable, providing larger profit for our shoppers by means of shared experience and, importantly, many extra alternatives for our individuals to develop.” Superunion’s Jim Prior is chair (each under.)
WPP CEO Mark Learn says: “Design Bridge and Companions can be a pacesetter in design and an essential a part of our easier, future-facing consumer supply. Fashioned from two profitable corporations in Design Bridge and Superunion, it is going to create new development alternatives each for our individuals and our shoppers.”
Design retailers performed a pivotal position in WPP’s formation in 1985 and subsequent development with founder Sir Martin Sorrell snapping up plenty of them as he sought to construct a marcoms group. It entered promoting with the acquisition of Madison Avenue’s J. Walter Thompson in a $400m plus deal in 1987.
It’s ironic that these branding consultants have all now been lumped collectively however that appears to be the way in which all of the advert holding corporations are transferring. How lengthy will it’s earlier than we’ve got WPP Inventive, WPP Media and a small variety of different leviathans?
