VMLY&R
VML is a global creative company and WPP subsidiary serving multinational enterprise clients with connected brand experience, customer experience, commerce, and AI-enabled marketing transformation across 50+ markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersKansas City, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What VMLY&R does
VML is a global creative company and wholly-owned subsidiary of WPP, formed through the unification of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson under the VML brand. It operates across 150+ offices in 50+ markets with more than 26,000 employees, serving large multinational enterprise clients across consumer goods, retail, technology, automotive, healthcare, and financial services. The firm integrates Brand Experience, Customer Experience, and Commerce into connected brand journeys, supported by an additional 12,000+ person VML Enterprise Solutions unit that delivers business transformation, engineering, CRM, and CX consulting across 40+ markets.
The company's technology stack is anchored by WPP Open, an AI-powered marketing operating system that combines generative AI, personalization, predictive analytics (via the Gain Theory MIRA assessment), autonomous agent deployment, and multimodal content generation across text, image, video, and audio. VML pairs this with strategic platform partnerships across Adobe, AWS, Braze, Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Shopify, enabling the firm to deliver implementation work and AI-mediated commerce solutions such as the Sainsbury's grocery eCommerce replatform, the United Rentals Digital Toolbelt, and Salesforce Agentforce transformations.
VML's revenue model is professional services-based: fee-for-service creative campaigns, strategy consulting, technology implementation, and managed services billed through quote-based, negotiated enterprise contracts. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales with dedicated account teams servicing global brand owners. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Recognition momentum is a meaningful commercial asset — 53 Cannes Lions (including a Titanium for Mondelez's OREO Cows), 107 Clio Honors, 120 One Show wins, and Campaign Global Network of the Year in 2026 — supporting the firm's ability to win and retain enterprise mandates.
VMLY&R firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VMLY&R
- Legal name
- VML
- Website
- https://vml.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- VML is a global creative company and WPP subsidiary serving multinational enterprise clients with connected brand experience, customer experience, commerce, and AI-enabled marketing transformation across 50+ markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VMLY&R industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Advertising and Marketing Services
- NAICS
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Customer Experience (CX) & Digital Experience (BPAHAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital & Technology Transformation Consulting (BPAHACAH), Customer Experience (CX) & Voice-of-Customer Analytics (BPAHALAK)
Keywords
Where VMLY&R is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kansas City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices74 records
Markets served
VMLY&R business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Creative and Marketing Services: Full-service creative agency providing brand experience, customer experience, and commerce solutions. Revenue generated through professional services including creative campaigns, strategy, consulting, technology implementation, and managed services for enterprise clients.
- Enterprise Solutions and Technology Consulting: Business transformation and marketing modernization services including technology modernization, AI-driven operating models, CRM implementation, digital products and platforms. Operates as WPP Enterprise Solutions unit with 12,000+ experts serving clients across 40+ markets.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
VMLY&R product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VML is a global creative company that delivers connected brand, customer experience, and commerce solutions by blending award-winning creative agency capabilities with technology consultancy expertise. The firm serves enterprise clients through professional services including creative campaigns, brand strategy, customer experience design, commerce transformation, CRM implementation, and enterprise technology consulting across 150+ offices in 50+ markets. Its WPP Enterprise Solutions unit provides business transformation services spanning engineering, platforms, commerce, consulting, content transformation, CRM, and CX.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Brand Experience
Quantifiable outcome
- 53 Lions at Cannes Lions 2026 including 1 Titanium and 2 Grands Prix
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use VMLY&R
Customer profileNamed customers26 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
VMLY&R technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability14 records
Feature3 records
VMLY&R partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- AdobecoreStrategic technology partnership for enterprise solutions including Adobe Experience Cloud integration, Adobe Commerce, and content supply chain solutions. VML leverages Adobe's enterprise platforms for digital transformation and customer experience delivery.
- AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreCloud infrastructure partnership providing scalable cloud-native systems, data analytics, and AI workloads for enterprise clients. VML builds secure multi-account and cross-cloud environments on AWS.
- BrazecoreCustomer engagement platform partnership for CRM, loyalty solutions, and personalized marketing automation at scale.
- GooglecoreTechnology and cloud partnership including AI/ML capabilities, cloud infrastructure, and digital marketing solutions for enterprise transformation.
- MicrosoftcoreEnterprise technology partnership for cloud solutions, AI capabilities, and digital transformation services leveraging Microsoft's technology stack.
- SalesforcecoreCRM and marketing cloud partnership for customer experience transformation, Salesforce Marketing Cloud implementation, and Agentforce AI digital transformation. VML delivers Salesforce solutions across 40+ markets.
- ShopifycoreE-commerce platform partnership for enterprise Shopify migration, direct-to-consumer solutions, and commerce transformation. VML provides Shopify migration services reducing cost of ownership and increasing agility.
- BAV GroupcoreWPP and VML consulting company providing brand consulting, brand asset management, and brand valuation expertise. Part of the Futures and Trends unit.
- Gain TheorycoreGlobal unbiased and independent WPP marketing effectiveness and foresight consultancy. Provides advanced analytics and strategic consulting for marketing effectiveness measurement, budget allocation, and channel optimization.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights5 records
VMLY&R competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- McCann Worldgroup: McCann is IPG's flagship global creative network, offering integrated advertising, CX, and healthcare marketing (McCann Health) capabilities. It competes directly with VML for multinational enterprise clients and major awards.
- BBDO Worldwide: BBDO is Omnicom's flagship global creative network, with comparable scale, blue-chip client roster, and integrated creative/CRM offerings. It is a perennial Cannes Lions competitor and one of the top three global creative networks alongside VML and Ogilvy.
- Wieden+Kennedy: Wieden+Kennedy is an independent global creative network with offices in Portland, London, Tokyo, and other markets, known for brand-led work for Nike, Coca-Cola, and others. It competes with VML on creatively led enterprise engagements and is a frequent Cannes Lions competitor.
- Ogilvy: Ogilvy is WPP's other flagship global creative network, offering the same combination of brand advertising, CX, and digital transformation. It is the closest direct comparable to VML in scale, service breadth, and holding-company positioning.
- Leo Burnett: Leo Burnett is Publicis Groupe's flagship global creative network, serving the same CPG and enterprise client base with brand advertising, CX, and commerce capabilities. It competes with VML for global AOR mandates and Cannes Lions recognition.
- Saatchi & Saatchi: Saatchi & Saatchi is Publicis Groupe's global creative network known for brand-led advertising and integrated CX work. It competes with VML for major CPG and retail AOR engagements globally.
- R/GA: R/GA (now part of IPG) is a global creative and technology network focused on connected brand experiences, commerce, and digital products. It is highly comparable to VML's Enterprise Solutions practice in combining creative storytelling with technology implementation.
- Dentsu Creative: Dentsu Creative is Dentsu Group's global creative network, combining brand storytelling with CX and commerce capabilities across APAC, EMEA, and the Americas. It is a direct competitor in cross-region enterprise pitches.
Broad incumbents
- Accenture Song: Accenture Song (including Droga5) is the technology-consulting-led creative and commerce practice of Accenture, combining design, marketing, and enterprise transformation. It directly competes with VML's Enterprise Solutions unit for large Adobe/Salesforce/Shopify transformation mandates.
- Deloitte Digital: Deloitte Digital is the Big Four consultancy's creative and customer experience practice, offering strategy, design, and technology implementation. It increasingly competes with VML Enterprise Solutions for end-to-end CX transformation RFPs at the enterprise CIO/CMO level.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
VMLY&R social profiles
Digital presenceVMLY&R financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VMLY&R leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
VMLY&R funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VMLY&R M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A10 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about VMLY&R
What does VMLY&R do?
VML is a global creative company that delivers connected brand, customer experience, and commerce solutions by blending award-winning creative agency capabilities with technology consultancy expertise. The firm serves enterprise clients through professional services including creative campaigns, brand strategy, customer experience design, commerce transformation, CRM implementation, and enterprise technology consulting across 150+ offices in 50+ markets. Its WPP Enterprise Solutions unit provides business transformation services spanning engineering, platforms, commerce, consulting, content transformation, CRM, and CX.
Is VMLY&R a public or private company?
VMLY&R is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was VMLY&R founded?
VMLY&R was founded in 1992. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is VMLY&R based?
VMLY&R is headquartered in Kansas City, United States, in the North America region.
How does VMLY&R make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Creative and Marketing Services are the primary driver. The others are enterprise Solutions and Technology Consulting.
Who are VMLY&R's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are McCann Worldgroup, BBDO Worldwide, Wieden+Kennedy, Ogilvy, Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi, R/GA and Dentsu Creative. Broad incumbents are Accenture Song and Deloitte Digital.
Does VMLY&R have an API?
No public API is recorded for VMLY&R.
What industry is VMLY&R in?
VMLY&R's product category is Advertising and Marketing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAEAC, Customer Experience (CX) & Digital Experience, with a secondary code of BPAHACAH, Digital & Technology Transformation Consulting. Its NAICS code is 5418 and its SIC code is 8742.