Airbnb names Wieden+Kennedy as its global agency of record
Airbnb has made Wieden+Kennedy its global agency of record which will see it lead the company’s roster of community agencies.
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The account was won following a competitive pitch with DDB, and sees the Portland-based agency replace TBWA\ChiatDay LA, which was not involved in the process.
Jonathan Mildenhall, global CMO for Airbnb, confirmed the appointment, and described the contest as one of the closest he had been involved in. “Both Wieden+Kennedy and DDB developed outstanding thinking but W+K's creative work has shown us a very compelling community voice that we know will take our creative output on to the next level.”
It is understood Wendy Clarke, chief executive for DDB North America and Wieden+Kennedy gobal CCO Colleen DeCourcy led their respective agencies in competing for the contract.
DeCourcy, commented: “From day one, it's been clear to us through every interaction that Airbnb is a values-driven company that cares deeply about its mission and ethos. In this respect, Airbnb and W+K are natural partners. We are a company that lives its values which are centered on people, creativity, and daring to do things that have never been done before. We are inspired because we believe that 21st-century brands are judged by what they do and the value they create for people. When you look at the company we keep - Lyft, Spotify, Instagram, Facebook and now Airbnb - Wieden+Kennedy has become the agency of record of the New Economy.”
The agency’s remit will see it collaborate with the client's in-house creative team with a new product launch expected in the near future, followed by a campaign for the next year’s travel season.