MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Yesterday, Wunderman Thompson Philippines officially relaunched its Manila office located at BDO Equitable Tower. The event gathered partners, clients and supporters of both beloved companies J. Walter Thompson Manila and Wunderman Manila.
This is following WPP’s announcement late last year to merge J. Walter Thompson, the world’s oldest ad agency, with digital network Wunderman. The merger also birthed a full brand identity which was revealed to employees and the public on February 4, including a new website, logo and positioning statements drafted to define a business with roughly 20,000 employees in 200 locations across 90 markets.
Last night @GoldaRoldan and @Brandietan unveiled the new logo of the #WundermanThompson office in Manila! #WTPH pic.twitter.com/5BRaSWxuUi
— adobo magazine (@adobomagazine) August 1, 2019
On preparing for the transition in the Manila office, Golda Roldan, CEO of Wunderman Thompson Philippines says: “Specific to the Philippines, it’s actually not that hard because we’re already located in one place. So unlike the other markets where they’re in separate places, we’ve been neighbors for the longest time. In terms of the integration, it is happening right now, we’ve blended already. Whatever the brief is from the client, whoever is fit to answer the brief, we’re now combined as one team.”
“Wunderman Thompson right now is a creative, data and technology agency but I think at the core of who we are really is our creativity. We’ve always been strong on strategy and creative excellence. That’s one thing for sure that you will continue to see as Wunderman Thompson.” Roldan also mentions, when asked on the things that would change, as well as the things that would stay the same following the merge.
Brandie Tan, Wunderman Thompson Philippines’ Executive Creative Director adds: “Nothing much is changing or leaving but more of an addition to each other. The creative now has access to data which can make our work more precise and more insightful. And the data now has creative, which can give their work more heart and soul, as they would say.”
Tan hopes that the merge will open opportunities to continue to create outstanding work. J. Walter Thompson helped popularize the grilled cheese sandwich, while Wunderman introduced the world to zip codes. “We’re hoping to create some brave creative out of all of this, some iconic work. J. Walter Thompson and Wunderman in the past have created some iconic campaigns so we intend to do it as Wunderman Thompson.”
