DDFH&B is to merge with sister agency Target McConnells following three major account losses and some senior redundancies, a number of which were voluntary. Among the accounts which DDFH&B lost were Eir and the National Lottery – both of which moved to Rothco. Among the senior personnel who left DDs was creative director Gavin O’Sullivan.
So too, Aoife Moore who had joined the agency as MD from Rothco earlier this year.
The common denominator in terms of ownership of both agencies is DDFH&B founder Jim Donnelly. The new merged agency will be chaired by Gary Brown. Abi Moran, above, will be the chief executive, while Enda Kelly and Laura Daly will be joint MDs. The new agency will incorporate WPP’s JWT moniker, which has had a stake in DDs going back to 1983.
Miriam Hughes’s future plans at the agency have yet to be confirmed.
DDFH&B clients include Kerry Foods, SuperValu-Centra, Irish Life, Littlewoods, Water Wipes and Brennan’s Bread. Target McConnells’s portfolio includes An Post, Vodafone, the League of Credit Unions and SafeFood. The DDFH&B group of agencies also includes PR firm The Reputations Agency, run by Niamh Boyle, and Goosebump, run by Sarah Love.
With regards to media buying, DD’s 50 per cent stake in Mindshare with Ogilvy is not affected by the merger but negotiations will be held to decide the relationship with Maxus, following its tie-up with MEC under the new Wavemaker brand.
SuperValu, which DDFH&B has handled for many years, is currently out to pitch.
