Airbnb has announced Wieden+Kennedy as its global agency of record to lead the brand’s roster of agencies. The independent agency, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, was appointed following a competitive pitch with DDB.

Wieden+Kennedy’s pitch was led by global CCO Colleen DeCourcy in a global team effort that showcased the creative credentials of the network. Jonathan Mildenhall, global CMO for Airbnb, says, “I am delighted to confirm Wieden+Kennedy as our global agency of record after what was the most closely contested pitch of my career. Both Wieden+Kennedy and DDB developed outstanding thinking but W+K's creative work has shown us a very compelling community voice that we know will take our creative output on to the next level.”

Part of the remit challenged the winning agency to collaborate in a progressive manner with Airbnb’s in-house creative team. Following the announcement, the teams at Airbnb and Wieden+Kennedy will get to work on their first collaboration with a new product launch due this autumn, to be followed by next year’s travel season campaign.

Global CCO for Wieden+Kennedy, Colleen DeCourcy, says, “We are a company that lives its values which are centred on people, creativity, and daring to do things that have never been done before. We are inspired because we believe that 21^st century brands are judged by what they do and the value they create for people. Wieden+Kennedy has become the agency of record of the new economy.”