5 WPP agencies come together to form one global brand agency

Five of WPP’s brand consultancies and design agencies, Brand Union, The Partners, Lambie-Nairn, Addison Group and VBAT, are coming together to create a global brand agency.

The new, as yet unnamed agency, will have a network of 750 people in over 20 countries, with client billings in excess of $100 million worldwide.

Current CEO of The Partners and Lambie-Nairn, Jim Prior, and current CEO, Worldwide of Brand Union, Simon Bolton will lead the new agency in the capacity of global CEO and executive chairman, respectively.

The decision to bring the agencies together is part of a client-centric plan for growth. “It will enable clients to engage with a wider array of specialists, provide a more connected set of services, and will make the strategic, creative and client-focused excellence of each of the five agencies accessible at scale,” says WPP in a statement.

“It will combine Brand Union’s strategic strength and global influence, The Partners’ award-winning creative excellence, Lambie-Nairn’s unparalleled history in identity and motion graphics, Addison’s unique understanding of corporate audiences, content development and digital delivery and the premium packaging offer of VBAT (which will continue to operate under the VBAT name),” the statement adds.

The new agency will launch in January 2018.