WPP AUNZ merges Landor, Designworks in Australia

WPP AUNZ is merging Landor Australia and Designworks Australia to form a single brand and customer-experience design agency.

The merged business will operate under the Landor name. and be led by Dominic Walsh, MD of Landor Australia, reporting to Sven Baker, Designworks chairman and group CEO, as executive chairman.

Brad Doble, currently MD of Designworks Australia, has been appointed to the newly formed role of managing partner in Sydney, and Landor’s Nick Davis as managing partner in Melbourne.

WPP AUNZ said the two firms have "highly complementary" offers: Designworks has "regional strength" in corporate branding and customer-experience design, while the global Landor brand brings proprietary methodologies in consumer branding and innovation.

“Bringing [the businesses] 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," WPP AUNZ CEO Michael Connaghan said in a release. The combined scale will drive greater value for clients, he added.

Landor boasts clients including BP, FedEx, Procter & Gamble, and Singapore Airlines, while Designworks has Officeworks, Stockland, and Westpac.

The Designworks brand and businesses will continue unaffected in New Zealand.