Uber is set to appoint WPP’s MediaCom is its new media agency according to a report in Ad Age. The controversial ride sharing company is also believed to have picked MDC’s 72andSunny as its lead creative agency.
New chief brand officer Bozoma Saint John, formerly at Apple Music, has been shaking things up at Uber, making headlines recently when she said that people loved the Uber product but not necessarily the brand. Founder and CEO Travis Kalanick resigned following a shareholder revolt in June. The US Department of Justice has reportedly begun a criminal investigation into Uber’s use of software.
Uber has not, to date, been a big advertiser but that looks likely to change. West coast tech companies have emerged recently as some of the biggest spenders on traditional advertising.
MediaCom, which lost £2bn Volksagen media 18 months ago, has fought back with a vengeance, winning PSA’s £1bn media account and adding Opel/Vauxhall, now owned by the French car giant. It has also won Richemont, Whole Foods and Subway.