RAPP COLLINS MERGES WITH WRC

The DDB Group has announced the expansion of its relationship marketing arm Rapp Collins Limb Walker through a merger with customer involvement agency WRC.
The two agencies will come together under the Rapp Collins banner to form a unique offering in the New Zealand marketplace.
Rapp Collins Limb Walker’s relationship marketing strengths will be expanded with WRC’s award-winning customer involvement and experiential approach.
In a broader strategic move, Rapp Collins Limb Walker will be known simply as Rapp Collins from 1 April. This aligns the agency more closely with DDB’s powerful Rapp Collins global brand.
DDB Chief Executive Sandy Moore explained: “This merger delivers a strategically and creatively stronger relationship marketing offering for the DDB Group, which underpins our integrated philosophy.
“WRC has built up an enviable reputation for innovative customer involvement, experiential marketing and promotions. They have been highly awarded both locally and internationally for their creativity and effectiveness, and bring to Rapp Collins Limb Walker a set of complementary but specialist skills.”
Robert Limb and Lance Walker, Rapp Collins Limb Walker joint managing directors, will continue to run the business. They believe the expanded team will offer one of the broadest skill bases in the country.
“We’re building New Zealand’s most creatively dynamic relationship marketing business – adding the dimension of customer involvement to our market-leading strategic and creative work,” Limb explained.
The expanded creative team will be headed by Executive Creative Director Wayne Pick, one of New Zealand’s most awarded creative directors who joined Rapp Collins Limb Walker in October.
Rapp Collins Limb Walker was formed a year ago when DDB acquired relationship marketing specialists Limb Walker Partners. The agency has grown rapidly during 2007 from just four staff to more than 20 across Auckland and Wellington offices.
New business wins include The National Bank, ANZ and Telecom plus integrated group work on NZ Lotteries, AMI, SKY TV and Volkswagen, together with long term clients Fly Buys, New World and CIGNA Insurance.
The merger will see WRC’s business move into Rapp Collins including Lion Nathan, Nokia, HWI and the Child Cancer Foundation.
WRC Managing Director Murray Reid has decided not to be part of the Rapp Collins business and is actively pursuing other business opportunities.