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TBWA Worldwide history
TBWA Worldwide company history timeline
TBWA was founded in 1970 by four men who had all worked as European executives with advertising giant Young & Rubicam, Inc.
Chiat/Day's "My Hero, the Pimp" ads of 1970 raised large amounts of money for Direction Sports, an organization involved in helping urban youth.
Frankfort was next in 1972, followed by London, Madrid, Zurich, and Brussels--each added at one year intervals.
Designory, founded in 1972, is a global, award-winning, marketing agency with expertise across the content creation spectrum including digital, print and video.
In 1975, however, Honda, responsible for half of Chiat/Day's billings and three-quarters of its income, left for another ad agency.
In 1977 Tragos left Paris and returned home to open TBWA's first United States office.
In 1980 Hayes' drawing, minus the wings, became the first ad in a series that would continue for more than ten years, bringing TBWA numerous awards.
Throughout the mid-1980's, TBWA grew rapidly, adding $100 million a year in billings for four years running.
1980: Chiat/Day is named Agency of the Year by Advertising Age magazine.
Using an abandoned print ad, staffers worked around the slogan "Why 1984 won't be like 1984." Apple liked the idea, and British film director Ridley Scott was hired for the filming.
Fortunately, only half of the scheduled time could be sold, and the "1984" ad was run.
1984: Chiat's Apple Computer "1984" ad debuts during Super Bowl.
A significant contribution to this growth was made by TBWA's Milan office which landed SEAT, a large Spanish car manufacturer, as a client in 1985.
Dusseldorf, TBWA's twelfth branch, opened in 1986.
Overall TBWA billings reached $545 million in 1987, and the company became the world's 21st largest advertising agency.
In 1987 TBWA opened a third German office--this time in Hamburg.
For 1987's holiday season, TBWA made a splash with a special Absolut ad.
Yet 1987's acquisition of the Nissan Motor account heralded a new era for Chiat/Day.
In June of 1988 TBWA merged the St Louis TBWA office with newly acquired BFV&L advertising, one of the city's top five agencies.
The tradition of flashy Absolut magazine ads continued in October of 1988, when TBWA created a paper-weight-like bottle of clear vinyl with plastic snowflakes filtering down inside.
TBWA's New York billings neared $160 million in 1988.
1988: Chiat/Day is again named Advertising Age's Agency of the Year.
In August of 1989 TBWA purchased Kerlick, Switzer & Johnson, another St Louis ad agency.
In 1989, the agency's billings topped $850 million.
Since 1989, AUDITOIRE agencies located in Paris, Shanghai, Singapore, Hong-Kong, Dubai and Doha, have designed and produced more than 3,000 such live events for leading brands and businesses all over the world.
One of Australia's savviest agencies, Mojo was at its peak when the merger came through in 1989.
In April of 1990 TBWA lost an original founder as Paolo Ajroldi died unexpectedly of a heart attack at age 57.
1990: Chiat receives Agency of the Decade title from Advertising Age.
In September of 1991 Japanese partner Hakuhodo strengthened existing ties with TBWA by investing $15 million in the agency.
In its first Eastern foray, TBWA opened an office in Seoul in 1991.
Chiat/Day/Mojo's billings hit $1.2 billion in 1991, with Toshiba, Reebok, American Express, and Microsoft all signing on.
By November 1992, Chiat/Day had unloaded Mojo to rival Foote, Cone & Belding for an undisclosed sum. "It was a mix of cultures that wouldn't marry," original Mojo founding partner Alan Morris (the "Mo"of Mojo) told Tony Burrett of Adweek magazine.
In January 1994 the "virtual office" concept was officially implemented; traditional desks and cubicles were replaced by electronic calendars and electronic mail, lockers, laptops, beepers, and cellular phones.
1995: Chiat/Day merges with Omnicom subsidiary TBWA Worldwide; under the new name TBWA/ Chiat/Day, the maverick agency retains much of its former autonomy.
In July 1997 four Taco Bells ads were unveiled, one featuring a talking dog who said "Yo quiero Taco Bell." The charming chihuahua struck a cord with Americans of all ages and Taco Bell experienced a surge in sales.
The Apple collaboration even earned TBWA/Chiat/Day Advertising Age's United States Agency of the Year award for 1997.
1997: Jobs returns to Apple and rehires the agency; "Think Different" ads hit TV and billboards.
Like many years before, 1999 was a rollercoaster ride for TBWA/Chiat/Day.
2000: TBWA/Chiatf/Day creates successful ads heralding the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
Gross Billings: $1.8 billion (2000 est.)
In 2006, TBWA\Media Arts Lab was born.
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TBWA Worldwide competitors
| Company name | Founded date | Revenue | Employee size | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deutsch LA | 1969 | $495.0M | 3,500 | - |
| Goodby Silverstein & Partners | 1983 | $37.5M | 301 | - |
| Droga5 | 2006 | $166.0M | 625 | - |
| Grey Group | 1917 | $1.3B | 2,400 | 86 |
| Leo Burnett | 1935 | $1.9B | 9,000 | - |
| Omnicom Group | 1986 | $15.7B | 64,100 | 15 |
| Wieden+Kennedy | 1982 | $230.0M | 928 | 5 |
| Crispin Porter + Bogusky | 1965 | $98.0M | 700 | - |
| Landor Associates | 1941 | $36.0M | 500 | 11 |
| Adweek | 1978 | $13.0M | 322 | - |
TBWA Worldwide history FAQs
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TBWA Worldwide may also be known as or be related to TBWA Group, TBWA Worldwide, TBWA Worldwide Inc, TBWA Worldwide Inc. and Tbwa\worldwide.