WPP has announced its acquisition of New Commercial Arts (NCA), a top independent creative and customer experience agency. NCA will be integrated into Ogilvy’s global creative network, strengthening the agency’s presence in the UK market.
Founded in 2020 by industry veterans James Murphy and David Golding, NCA quickly gained recognition as one of the fastest-growing agencies in the UK by 2023. The agency has worked with major clients like Sainsbury’s, MoneySuperMarket, Vodafone, Nando’s, Paramount+, Alzheimer’s Society, and CityFibre.
Murphy and Golding are no strangers to success, having previously co-founded Adam&Eve in 2008, which went on to become one of the most influential agencies in the UK. NCA currently employs about 90 people, with offices in London’s Fitzrovia and Glasgow’s Merchant City, in collaboration with the Glasgow School of Art.
Under this new structure, James Murphy will take on the role of CEO of Ogilvy Group UK, marking his return to Ogilvy, where he started his career. Fiona Gordon, who has led Ogilvy UK’s recent growth as CEO since 2021, has been promoted to Global CEO of Advertising at Ogilvy.