DDB Worldwide Announces the Acquisition of London-based adam&eve

DDB UK to merge with adam&eve to create adam&eve/DDB

News provided by

May 24, 2012, 09:05 ET

LONDON, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- DDB Worldwide, a subsidiary of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC), announced today that it has acquired acclaimed London communications agency adam&eve. The agency will merge with DDB UK to create a new agency, adam&eve/DDB, a key flagship office for the DDB global network.

The newly formed agency brings together two agencies with celebrated creative reputations. adam&eve, winner of Campaign and Marketing magazines' Agency of the Year awards in 2010, has quickly developed a reputation as one of the most successful communications agencies of recent years, due to strong growth and widely admired work for esteemed clients. DDB UK is one of the world's most awarded creative agencies, ranked the most awarded agency for over 13 years by the Gunn Report and the most awarded agency ever in the IPA Effectiveness Awards.

The new management team of adam&eve/DDB will be comprised of both the adam&eve partners and members of the DDB UK management team. It will be led by adam&eve CEO James Murphy who has been appointed the CEO of adam&eve/DDB. Stephen Woodford, current CEO of DDB UK, will become Chairman of adam&eve/DDB.

"adam&eve is a great fit with the DDB culture, our UK team, and with the network as a whole," said Chuck Brymer, DDB Worldwide President and CEO. "Their creativity and vision aligns perfectly with our ambitions for the London market and adds world-class talent to what is already one of our premiere offices. Joining the two agencies will establish a creative powerhouse in the London market and globally."

"It is both an honor and an incredible opportunity to be uniting adam&eve with DDB," added Murphy, who will also serve as CEO of the new agency. "We have worked tirelessly with an outstanding team to build a successful and creative communications agency. We intend to continue doing so as we lead adam&eve/DDB into a new period. Our two agencies share a similar culture, ambition and purpose. Together, we can unleash the potential of both. It's a truly exciting moment for us, for our new colleagues and for the UK advertising industry."

Woodford added: "I am delighted that the adam&eve team have decided to join forces with DDB. DDB's scale of resources and talent will amplify the energy and entrepreneurial spirit of adam&eve, driven by the creative passion that unites both businesses."

The new company will be based at DDB'S Offices on Bishops Bridge Road.

About adam&eve

adam&eve was launched in early 2008 by the ex-management team at RKCR/Y&R and the ex-head of strategy at Naked Communications. The agency has grown quickly with billings exceeding 80millon pounds Sterling and now stands within the UK's top twenty. adam&eve has built up a very strong client base of blue chip clients including John Lewis, Heineken UK, Halifax, Google and Phones 4U. The agency's creative work has been recognised repeatedly across key creative and digital awards in the UK and internationally and it has been voted Agency of the Year in both Campaign and Marketing Magazines in 2010, and topped the YouGov Agency Reputation Survey that same year. adam&eve has fast become one of the most talked about and respected agencies in the UK.

About DDB Worldwide

DDB Worldwide Communications Group Inc (www.ddb.com) ranks among the top five consolidated advertising and marketing services global networks, according to Advertising Age. DDB emphasizes Social Creativity to grow the value and influence of brands around the world by creating ideas that people want to play with, participate in and pass along. The agency is consistently one of the most awarded at the Cannes Festival of Creativity and was recognized by The Gunn Report as one of the Top 3 Global Networks for 10 of the last 12 years. DDB was also recently named the Spikes Asia Network of the Year for the second consecutive year and the Eurobest Network of the Year for the third consecutive year. DDB Worldwide is part of Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC) and consists of more than 200 offices in over 90 countries.

About Omnicom Group Inc.

Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) is a leading global marketing and communications company (www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

Contact

Elena Weinstein: 212-415-2191

SOURCE DDB Worldwide