Clemenger BBDO Adelaide closes with some staff and clients moving to KWP
Independent agency KWP is set to take on some clients and staff from Clemenger BBDO Adelaide’s office which is being closed down.
In a surprise move Clemenger chairman Robert Morgan has this afternoon confirmed the closure of one of the biggest ad agencies in South Australia, which had clients including Fantastic Snacks, BankSA, the University of South Australia and several state government departments on its roster.
It is not clear exactly how many staff will transfer over, or which clients will make the switch from January 1.
According to a statement Clems Adelaide managing director Kim Boehm will join the KWP board, with the agency to form a “strategic alliance” with the Clemenger Group.
“Being independent and nimble, but offering a complete package is an attractive proposition to clients here and interstate,” said KWP managing director John Baker. “We have the capabilities, credentials and desire to be a truly borderless agency.
“This is less about new people and clients joining KWP, it’s more about relaunching the new KWP. The combined creative and strategic strength in conjunction with the complete in-house media, digital and data analysis capabilities creates a formidable and truly full-service agency.”
The Clemenger digital and social media team will move into the KWP offices along with “a number of key staff”, although there were no specific numbers given.
Wow. Great for kwp! but a bit sad for the Adelaide advertising scene. There really is only one world class agency left there now. Hopefully others will emerge as real contenders, existing or new.
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I didn’t realise there had ever been a world class agency in Adelaide. Y&R came closest during its Chrysler/Mitsubishi heydays in the 80s and 90s. KWP are pretty good but, as any Y&R staffer will tell you, good is the enemy of great!
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50 years of work down the drain. Unlike Y&R, they simply failed. Congratulations kwp!
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