Landor and Designworks set to merge under the Landor brand
WPP AUNZ has announced the merger of Landor Australia and Designworks to form one agency.
Sven Baker and Dominic Walsh
The merger will see Designworks operate under the Landor name and brand as of February, combining branding and consumer experience.
The move is the latest step by WPP to streamline its operations in Australia after it completed the successful takeover of STW Group last year.
Designworks was an STW company and the decision to fold it into the global Landor business brings to an end the brand in Australia.
Dominic Walsh is set to run the new Landor while Brad Doble – the current MD of Designworks Australia – has been appointed the managing partner in Sydney. Landor’s Nick Davis has been appointed the managing partner in Melbourne.
Landor’s current clients include BP, FedEx, Singapore Airlines and Procter & Gamble while Designworks has Officeworks, Westpac and Stockland.
Michael Connaghan, CEO of WPP AUNZ, said: “Landor and Designworks Australia are both outstanding businesses in their own right. Bringing them together creates a unique offering in the Australian marketing landscape; the power and strength of Landor’s global brand with the agility, the local expertise, and knowledge of Designworks. They are both highly innovative and future-focused in their approach to business, and their combined scale and capability will drive even greater value for existing and future clients.”
Sven Baker, Designworks chairman and group CEO, said he was delighted to be part of Landor’s and its benefit it would have on Designworks clients.
Walsh said: “I’m thrilled that we’re now partnering with them, so together we can continue to develop and grow the market opportunity in Australia.”
The merger will not affect Designworks in New Zealand and it will continue business as usual.
Abigail Dawson was Mumbrella's senior content journalist covering event content. She left Mumbrella to move into an agency role in 2020.
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In other words, DesignWorks is a failure in the Australian market. Good luck to those now working at Landor and for the devil: Phillip Morris accounts for most of their business.
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