WPP acquires majority stake in SET Creative

SET creates physical brand experiences in retail stores, pop-up stores, trade shows and live events as well as continuing that engagement digitally via apps, content creation and social media. 

SET Creative’s revenues for the year ended 31 December 2014 were approximately $38 million with gross assets of approximately $18 million. Clients include Arc’teryx, BMW, Google Glass, Jordan, Nike, Red Bull and Uniqlo.

Founded in 2009, SET Creative is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with offices in New York and Los Angeles. The agency recently acquired a UK operation, called Flourish, to be renamed SET Live, concentrating on live events, exhibitions and environments.

SET’s management, led by founder Sabina Teshler, will remain in place, reporting in to Simon Bolton, co-leader of WPP’s branding & identity division (B to D group), who will oversee SET as part of a newly-formed collective focusing on all elements of brand experience.

Separately, WPP has announced a collaboration with luxury British car brand Aston Martin to create a global marketing services team.

The collaboration, which covers a range of projects in 2015 with the ultimate aim of a full marketing communications partnership in 2016, was announced at the annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity by WPP CEO, Sir Martin Sorrell (pictured).