Under the leadership of Jon Cook and Mel Edwards, the company will be equipped to support clients in creative brand growth strategies
WPP announced the merger of Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R, which will now be called VML. With the merger, Jon Cook will take on the role of global CEO of VML, while Mel Edwards takes over as global president
The company, which will begin operating from January 2024, will be operational from January 1, 2024, will be equipped to support clients in creative brand growth strategies and transformation initiatives, using data operations, technology platforms and partnerships with leading technology companies.
VML will also provide an offering for healthcare companies and B2B marketers.
The future of building brands and businesses requires the interconnectivity of brand experience, commerce and customer experiences. We recognize the opportunity to create what every consultancy and advertising agency aspires to build with the formation of VML. We are excited to present our new offering to the industry,” said Cook.
The company’s immediate leadership appointments include Debbi Vandeven, global creative director; Eric Campbell, global client director; Juan Pablo Jurado, CEO Latam; Ewen Sturgeon, CEO EMEA and Audrey Kuah and Yi-Chung Tay, co-CEOs APAC.
“This is the right set of capabilities, offered at the right time, on an unprecedented scale. With this new agency, we have the opportunity to shape the future of modern marketing in every major market around the world. The opportunities it provides our people and The growth we can provide to our clients on a global scale makes this a true game changer for each business and for the industry in general, added Mel Edwards.
Together, Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R have signed global partnerships with clients such as Colgate Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestl, The Coca-Cola Company and others, in addition to being among the companies recognized by Forrester Wave Reports, which named WPP as Leader in Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Service Providers and, most recently, Marketing Measurement and Optimization.
VML combines creativity with expertise in data, marketing technology and platforms to deliver a competitive advantage for brands. Separately, Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R are two of WPP’s strongest and best-performing agencies. Together, they will provide an even broader, fully integrated set of capabilities to our clients across all markets, said Mark Read, CEO of WPP.
