DDB merges RAPP and Tribal in New Zealand
A surge in staff numbers, strong client growth and major new business wins has prompted DDB Group New Zealand to merge existing relationship agencies RAPP and Tribal DDB into a single agency under the RAPP/Tribal brand.
The merged company will have more than 60 staff and a blue chip client roster including Telecom, ANZ New Zealand, McDonald’s, Yellow, Cadbury, CIGNA, NZ Lotteries, Loyalty NZ and Wattie’s, led by Robert Limb (left), RAPP New Zealand’s current managing director.
The move to fuse both direct and digital disciplines into one agencysignifies a natural progression in response to client demands,according to DDB Group New Zealand CEO Sandy Moore: “This merger willallow us to streamline our direct and digital offerings, simplifyprocesses and make it easier and faster for clients to get what theyneed.”
As well as providing direct marketing, digital and CRM expertise to itsown clients, Rapp/Tribal will continue to be an integral part of DDBNew Zealand. Digital expertise now sits at the heart of both DDB andRapp/Tribal, evidence of the Group’s focus on this area.
“RAPP is the current AdMedia Direct and Digital Agency of the Year andone of the top 10 worldwide creative agencies according to The WonReport. Tribal DDB just won a Gold Lion at Cannes for the Coastguard’Live Rescue’ project. Without a doubt RAPP/Tribal will be a force tobe reckoned with in the Kiwi agency landscape,” says Moore (left).
Robert Limb believes the client demand for smart, engaging solutionswill be met with the expertise within the current teams, along withroom for further growth: “We have collectively experienced a surge indigital work from 30% – 70% over the past six months. RAPP itself hasflourished growing from five people to a team of 40 in just threeyears. Tribal has grown at an incredible rate too.
“This is about creating new opportunities and a balanced leadershipfocused on growth not cost cutting; in fact we will be creating fivenew roles as part of the merger,” says Limb.
RAPP/Tribal will make final steps on the merger over the next two weeks and announce new roles soon.
35 Comments
Robert Limb is pretty much the nicest and hardest working guy I’ve met in the ad agency world, and he still manages to grow tomatoes. Well done.
This move means they are running about 3 years to the day behind Aim. Lets hope their story doesn’t have the same ending. Sadly I think it will, as really they should have just rolled them all into DDB, and saved all the heartache to come.
11:27 Pessimistic much?
“major new business wins”
?
That client list is the same as at least a year ago…
test
11.27 yes and funnily enough the people at rapp and tribal are probably the exact same staff list from Aim three years ago too…
11.27. You’re wrong there.
No one’s running behond Aim. Aim is running behind everyone else.
In fact, Aim is rumoured to be the new studio of Colenso. Maybe that’s the new trend they’re setting. How a DM shop becomes a studio shop.
Maybe you can tell us more because you see to be from there?
So.
The Puppeteers and their Muppet Puppet strike again.
This is the work of Burt and Ernie, and they’re pulling Gonzo’s strings.
And only Gonzo would let his strings be pulled like that.
1.33 ha ha ha ha ha ha. So true, and they all get on so well together too.
12.15 The word is realist.
Don’t believe me?
Print it out, keep it in your drawer. Have a look in a few years.
F@$%# Me
1.40 the point is that Rapp are following the same process that we did three years ago. Yes Rapp are better than us now. That’s because this direction poked us. And in a couple of years Rapp are going to be poked too. Not by the clients, but by your cousins upstairs.There’s a reason why you are the only ones left. But no comfort.
1.44.
I see what you mean. He has the same floppy bit at the front as Gonzo too!
Top marks to The Forsyth for refusing to be a knob gobbler to that lot.
11.24. Is that you Sandy? Thought you’d be told to stay off the blog.
Good to see this blog is as negative as always….Rob Limb is the best direct leader in NZ by a long way – perhaps we could just congratulate him and move on?
Nice photo Rob!
RIP direct then. Been good to know you.
How can Tribal call themselves a digital agency, if they have to send client work out to other auckland digital agencies to get done.
Can worms need opening?
This guy’s the nicest, that guy’s the greatest, he’s a twat, they’re a knob, she’s a legend. Bored.
Rappt.
Wow this merger totally makes sense. DM and digital are perfect partners. Disagree strongly about rolling into DDB. That would have been a complete waste of time- DDB doesn’t need Tribal to succeed. Rapp does. Thank God you guys who commented above, aren’t in charge of an agency- you’d be screwed.
Rob’s enthusiasm and drive is infectious, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing it firsthand. This merger will have its dark before the light, but if Rob can’t make this happen, no one can. Congrats Rob, you’re truly one of the last gentlemen in advertising, which I’m trying to be – so ladies and gentlefolk if you could please desist from becoming playa detestors, it would be rather appealing. Word to your maternal kinfolk.
11.00am Hi Sandy. Can’t leave the blog alone hey?
12.10.
The way I see it, the Rapp guy is the last man standing in an agency that’s better known for its rearrangement of deck chairs and never-ending politics than Helen Clark and the beehive. Except you guys have an old-school Muldoon. Better you than us.
Say no more.
who cares? Rapp is crap anyway
you obviously care if your willing to comment, along with other numerous people, wow some people are bitter
‘A surge in staff numbers, strong client growth ‘ haha who are they kidding?
Everyone that was any good quit tribal ages ago, over 12 members of staff left in the last 5months! Rapp have even made people redundant in the last 6months, kinda says it all, just media spin and lies a desperate move and AIM all over again…
I’d touch Rob’s limb anyday
Yep.
A surge in sataff numbers and strong client growth,
Pissed myself laughing at that one too.
The fantasy world of pr spin like only DDB can.
5.16pm Sandy its ok you dont have to keep defending Rapp. Everyone knows its rubbish.
12.23, 2.27 & 9:44… that old joke cracks me up every time – please keep using it.
2.44. It’s not a joke. It really is him. Old two fingers.
What a farking tosser.
This company has proven over and over in the last few years that it is devoid of moral accountability when it comes to people’s careers and lives.
The revolving door of senior people who have come and gone from this company speaks volumes. And the way in which many have come and gone is not good enough.
Beware all.
12.10. You are a knob gobbler.
Barf.