MAM
DDB Worldwide acquires London-based adam&eve
MUMBAI: Omnicom Group‘s DDB Worldwide has acquired three year old London-based communications agency adam&eve. In a month‘s time, the indie agency will be merged into its parent company and will be rechristened as adam&eve/DDB.
The indie agency said that it has reached a stage of growth that called for an ability to serve international client briefs. Working with brands like YouTube, Google and John Lewis highlighted the need for a strong network of like-minded agencies and DDB seemed to fit the bill. adam&eve were advised by Clarity (corporate finance), Osborne Clarke (legal) and Kingston Smith W1 (due diligence).
The agency was founded in 2008 by RKCR/Y&R execs — David Golding, James Murphy and Ben Priest — and Jon Forsyth from Naked. After initial reluctance to sell out, the decision to do so was reached gradually as the people in both businesses got to know each other over almost a year, and realised potential of their combined forces, the company said in a statement.
The new company will be based at Bishops Bridge Road in London.
According to a statement issued by DDB Worldwide, post this acquisition adam&eve/DDB will feature in UK‘s top six by revenue and top 10 by UK media billings. The new entity will be an important hub for the DDB Global network providing a combination of entrepreneurial energy and creative flair to client.
The management committee at adam&eve/DDB will have Stephen Woodord as chairman and Murphy will hold the post of founder CEO. Priest will take on the responsibilities of founder/ECD, Golding will hold the post of founder/chief strategy officer and Forsyth will be founder/chief communications strategy officer. The committee will also include Tribal MD Tom Roberts, ECD Emer Stamp and ECD Ben Tollett. Further announcements about roles in the new agency will be made in due course of time.
DDB Worldwide president and CEO Chuck Brymer said, “From the first time we met with James, Ben, David and Jon, I knew adam&eve would be a great fit with the DDB culture, with our UK team and our network. Their creativity and success to date fits perfectly with our ambitions for London and adds world-class talent to what is already one of our best offices. Joining the two agencies will further strengthen what has always been a creative powerhouse in the London market and globally.”
The adam&eve founders said in statement, “It is both an honour and an incredible opportunity to be uniting adam&eve with DDB. We have worked tirelessly with an outstanding team to build a successful and creatively regarded communications agency serving big, blue-chip and respected clients. We intend to continue doing so as we lead adam&eve/DDB into a new period, energised with a sense of entrepreneurial drive and creative energy. Our two agencies share a similar culture, ambition and purpose.”
DDB UK chairman and CEO Stephen Woodford added, “I am delighted that adam&eve have decided to join forces with DDB. I really like them as people, I‘ve admired their work since the agency started and the fit between our two agencies could not be better in terms of values, talent and clients. Together we will build on the energy and entrepreneurialism of London‘s best start-up, by adding DDB‘s scale of resources and talent, driven by the creative passion that unites both businesses.”
As a result of the takeover, there may arise potential client conflict issues to resolve such as adam&eve handling departmental store John Lewis and DDB servicing its rival Harvey Nichols. According to the official communiqué from the agency, these issues will be resolved after consulting the clients under confidential conditions.
Brands
Chinese Wok appoints Havas as integrated creative and media partner
Desi-Chinese chain bets on integrated creative and media muscle to power national expansion
MUMBAI: Chinese Wok is turning up the heat. India’s largest desi-Chinese qsr chain has appointed Havas Creative India and Arena Media as its integrated creative, social and digital media partner, sharpening its marketing firepower as it pushes past 260 outlets and eyes 500 stores across tier 1, 2 and 3 cities.
The mandate is sweeping. Havas Creative India and Arena Media, part of Havas Media Network India, will steer creative strategy, brand campaigns, social media, digital performance marketing and media planning and buying, orchestrating campaigns across atl, digital and in-store touchpoints. The brief: build a unified, platform-led brand system fit for national scale.
Founded in 2015 under Lenexis Foodworks, Chinese Wok has grown into the country’s largest Chinese qsr brand, with a footprint spanning more than 50 cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Lucknow and Hyderabad. Now it wants more. Much more.
Aayush Madhusudan Agrawal, founder and director, Lenexis Foodworks, said the shift marks an investment in integrated brand building that matches the company’s growth ambitions. “As Chinese Wok scales nationally, we are investing in integrated brand building that matches our growth ambition. Havas will partner with us in shaping the next chapter of our journey, where creativity, culture and commerce work seamlessly together.”
The brand is doubling down on its youth-first positioning, amplifying cultural properties such as Wok FM and Crush Hour while building a broader content slate. The pivot away from campaign-led bursts to a continuous, platform-driven narrative signals a more systematised approach to brand equity.
Vikas Iyer, marketing head, Lenexis Foodworks, framed the move as essential to winning over Gen Z. “Chinese Wok has always been a culture-first brand, and as we deepen our connect with Gen Z, integration becomes critical. With Havas, we aim to create sharper campaigns, stronger digital ecosystems, and measurable impact, ensuring the brand stays relevant, visible, and performance-driven at scale”.
On the creative front, Anupama Ramaswamy, managing director and chief creative officer, Havas Creative India, described the brand as “pure fire, fast, flavourful and completely plugged into pop culture”. Her ambition: “to bottle that energy into a living brand platform that fuels everything, from big campaigns to cheeky social chatter to irresistible in-store experiences.” The goal, she added, is “stronger brand love, deeper youth obsession, and work that doesn’t just look good but moves business. More heat. More heart. More hunger”.
Uday Mohan, coo, Havas Media India and Havas Play, said integration is the real unlock. “By bringing together creative, media, and performance under one cohesive vision, we aim to build a brand ecosystem that is culturally sharp, digitally agile, and built for scale”.
Lenexis Foodworks also operates The Momo Co. and Big Bowl, but Chinese Wok remains its flagship and growth engine . As competition intensifies in India’s fast-food sector, scale alone is no longer enough. Cultural fluency, data-driven performance and seamless brand experiences are the new battleground.
Chinese Wok is betting that with Havas in its corner, it can serve up all three — fast, loud and at national scale.
