J. Walter Thompson

Historically one of the world's largest and oldest full-service advertising agencies; brand retired in 2018 following merger into Wunderman Thompson, itself later absorbed into VML.

J. Walter Thompson (JWT) was founded in 1864 and grew to become one of the most storied and influential advertising agencies in history. For over 150 years, JWT was synonymous with creative excellence, producing landmark campaigns for some of the world's most recognized brands including Ford, Unilever, Nestlé, and Kellogg's. With a global network spanning dozens of countries, JWT was a cornerstone of the WPP Group portfolio and consistently ranked among the top agencies worldwide by revenue and creative output. In November 2018, WPP merged JWT with its data and digital marketing arm, Wunderman, to create Wunderman Thompson — a move designed to combine JWT's creative heritage with Wunderman's data-driven, technology-forward capabilities. The merger effectively retired the JWT brand after more than 154 years, signaling the industry's broader shift toward integrated, data-led creative agencies. Wunderman Thompson positioned itself as a 'creative transformation' agency, blending brand storytelling with performance marketing and technology services. The JWT story did not end with Wunderman Thompson, however. In January 2024, WPP merged Wunderman Thompson with VMLY&R to form VML, a new combined entity. As a result, the JWT brand — and subsequently the Wunderman Thompson brand — has been fully absorbed, leaving no distinct operating entity carrying the JWT name. JWT's legacy endures through the creative traditions and global client relationships that now live within VML, one of WPP's largest agency networks.