Reports circulated this morning that DDB, one of Omnicom’s most iconic agency brands, could soon be retired as part of the rumored Omnicom and IPG merger. Now, the holding company has responded to The Drum’s request for confirmation.
The industry was rocked today by reports that the DDB agency brand, founded in 1949 by Bill Bernbach, James Edwin Doyle and Maxwell Dane, could be retired amid the imminent Omnicom and IPG merger. The news comes as a surprise given the agency’s enduring stature as one of Omnicom’s crown jewels and its recent recognition as Cannes Lions’s Network of the Year.
Known for its legendary work with Volkswagen, John Lewis and McDonald’s, DDB has shaped advertising culture for decades. Many industry veterans have taken to social media to express disappointment at the prospect of the nearly 80-year-old brand’s disappearance.
Omnicom agency networks include BBDO, DDB and TBWA, while IPG’s are FCB, McCann Worldgroup, and MullenLowe Group.
When contacted by The Drum, Omnicom did not confirm the reports about DDB but issued the following statement:
“As regulatory approvals are still pending and until the transaction is closed, we are still operating as two independent companies. However, we can share that, as it relates to our brands, we are undertaking a rigorous and considered process to ensure we have the very best solutions for the future for us and for our clients.
Advertisement
“This sentiment is informing everything we do in our go-forward plans. Once they are finalized and ready to be shared, communicating them to our clients and our people will be our priority. We will then make that information available publicly. We look forward to the close of our transaction and to moving forward as a combined company.”
While Omnicom has yet to confirm DDB’s future, the statement suggests ongoing discussions about brand structure and positioning as the merger progresses.
Back in March, Omnicom’s Troy Ruhanen told The Drum it “won’t be backing away from creative agency brands” and that ‘sibling rivalry’ will be healthy for the likes of BBDO, DDB and TBWA.
IPG
The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (IPG) is an American publicly traded advertising company. The company consists of five major networks: FCB, IPG Mediabrands,...
Omnicom
A global leader in marketing communications, Omnicom provides brand and advertising services to over 5000 clients in over 100 countries.