Walgreens Boots Alliance has partnered with WPP and selected a team of agencies to run marketing and communications channels for its retail and wholesale businesses, as well as its health and beauty product brands.

 

The bespoke WPP team, ‘Team WBA’, will be based in Chicago, London and New York, and will provide traditional and digital advertising, media investment management, promotion and relationship marketing, public affairs, media relations and communications services.

The combined business is worth an estimated $600m, according to reports.

“We look forward to partnering with Walgreens Boots Alliance to help further enhance what are already iconic brands in the health and wellbeing category,” said WPP chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell of the agreement that concludes a review process started in early 2016.

“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.”

Walgreens Boots Alliance executive vice chairman and CEO Stefano Pessina was also pleased to confirm the new partnership.

“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,” said Pessina.

In January, WPP expanded in China through agreeing to take full ownership of two joint ventures.