Walgreens Boots Alliance taps marketing agency WPP to manage global communications

DEERFIELD, Ill.  — Walgreens Boots Alliance on Tuesday afternoon partnered with WPP 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.



“We are very pleased to confirm this new partnership with WPP and the creation of Team WBA," stated Stefano Pessina, executive vice chairman and CEO Walgreens Boots Alliance. "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.”



‘Team WBA’, the bespoke WPP team, will provide services including traditional and digital advertising, media investment management, promotion and 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 $73 billion and revenues of $19 billion. The company employs 200,000 people (including associates and investments) in more than 3,000 offices across 113 countries.