Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA) has partnered with WPP (Nasdaq: WPPGY) and selected a team of WPP agencies to operate and develop multiple marketing and communications channels for its retail and wholesale businesses as well as its health and beauty product brands.
‘Team WBA’, the bespoke WPP team, will provide services including traditional and digital advertising, media investment management, promotion & relationship marketing, public affairs, media relations and communications for the enterprise, realizing significant benefits globally.
Hub office locations for ‘Team WBA’ will be created by WPP in Chicago, London and New York to support Walgreens Boots Alliance and businesses including Walgreens, Boots and Alliance Healthcare businesses.
WPP is the world’s largest communications services group with billings of US$73 billion and revenues of US$19 billion. The company employs 200,000 people (including associates and investments) in over 3,000 offices across 113 countries.
Stefano Pessina, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance, commented: “We are very pleased to confirm this new partnership with WPP and the creation of Team WBA. We have grown rapidly, so too have our marketing and communications needs, and this multi dimensional model and new way of working will better support our vision for the company and future growth plans. This more integrated way of working will help us to strengthen brand recognition, while unlocking potential synergies, creating increased efficiencies and helping streamline our activities globally.”
Sir Martin Sorrell, Chief Executive, WPP, said: “We look forward to partnering with Walgreens Boots Alliance to help further enhance what are already iconic brands in the health and wellbeing category. Team WBA will be a custom solution that draws together the talent and resources from across WPP to develop effective communications that will differentiate WBA and drive results.”
The decision culminates a thorough review process which began in early 2016.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
About Walgreens Boots Alliance
Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise.
The company was created through the combination of Walgreens and Alliance Boots in December 2014, bringing together two leading companies with iconic brands, complementary geographic footprints, shared values and a heritage of trusted health care services through pharmaceutical wholesaling and community pharmacy care, dating back more than 100 years.
Walgreens Boots Alliance is the largest retail pharmacy, health and daily living destination across the USA and Europe. Walgreens Boots Alliance and the companies in which it has equity method investments together have a presence in more than 25* countries and employ more than 400,000* people. The company is a global leader in pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing retail and, together with the companies in which it has equity method investments, has over 13,200* stores in 11* countries as well as one of the largest global pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution networks, with over 390* distribution centers delivering to more than 230,000** pharmacies, doctors, health centers and hospitals each year in more than 20* countries. In addition, Walgreens Boots Alliance is one of the world’s largest purchasers of prescription drugs and many other health and wellbeing products.
The company’s portfolio of retail and business brands includes Walgreens, Duane Reade, Boots and Alliance Healthcare, as well as increasingly global health and beauty product brands, such as No7, Botanics, Liz Earle and Soap & Glory. More company information is available at www.walgreensbootsalliance.com.
* As of 31 August 2016, using publicly available information for AmerisourceBergen.
** For 12 months ending 31 August 2016, using publicly available information for AmerisourceBergen.
About WPP
WPP is the world’s largest communications services group with billings of US$73 billion and revenues of US$19 billion. Through its operating companies, the Group provides a comprehensive range of advertising and marketing services including advertising & media investment management; data investment management; public relations & public affairs; branding & identity; healthcare communications; direct, digital, promotion & relationship marketing and specialist communications. The company employs over 200,000 people (including associates and investments) in over 3,000 offices across 113 countries. For more information, visit www.wpp.com.
WPP was named Holding Company of the Year at the 2016 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for the sixth year running. WPP was also named, for the fifth consecutive year, the World's Most Effective Holding Company in the 2016 Effie Effectiveness Index, which recognizes the effectiveness of marketing communications. In 2016 WPP was recognised by Warc 100 as the World’s Top Holding Company (second year running).
Contact(s)
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Chuck Greener
+1 847 315 2935
or
Yves Romestan
+44 (0)207 980 8585
WPP
USA / Kevin McCormack
+1 212 632 2239
or
EMEA / Chris Wade
+ 44 7408 2204