VMLY&R Now World’s Largest Creative Company After Merger

Posted October 19, 2023

Kansas City-based VMLY&R is merging with New York-based Wunderman Thompson, making the two entities the world’s largest creative company.

WPP Plc., which oversees both companies, announced Tuesday the merger of Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R. Together, the combined entity will be known as VML and will employ more than 30,000 people in 64 markets.

VML will be operational from January 1, 2024.

Jon Cook becomes VML Global CEO and Mel Edwards VML Global President, with the management team bringing together strong leaders from across both companies, according to a WPP release.

“We recognized the immediate opportunity to create what every consultancy and advertising agency aspires to build with the formation of VML,” Cook said. “We’re especially excited to present our new offering to the industry as we don’t believe there is another company as creatively awarded with our depth in customer experience and commerce.”

“It’s incredibly exciting because, with this new agency, we have the chance to shape the future of modern marketing in every key market around the world. The opportunities it affords our people and the growth we can deliver for our clients at a global scale make this a real game-changer for each business and the wider industry,” Edwards said.

Prior to the merger, VMLY&R, founded in 1992, ranked No.1 in Ingram’s 2023 Power Book. The company grossed $940 million dollars in 2021. Top local clients for the firm include Ford, Colgate-Palmolive, Pfizer, Intel, Coca-Cola, Walgreens Boots Alliance, AstraZeneca, T-Mobile and United Rentals.

VMLY&R employs 13,000 firmwide and more than 700 in Kansas City.

View the full WPP release, here.