T-Mobile Names Dentsu Creative Its Lead Agency for Brand Strategy

Five days into 2024, T-Mobile made what could be one of the biggest account moves of the year by bringing in Dentsu Creative as its lead agency for brand strategy. T-Mobile launched its review in June 2023 for work previously covered by Publicis' Saatchi & Saatchi. The review honed in on agencies that could help out with sponsorship, differentiation, digital, audio and Hispanic audiences. T-Mobile procurement took the lead on the seven-month review, with ID Comms providing support throughout the process. Dentsu Creative emerged from a field of candidates that included Saatchi & Saatchi, WPP's VML, IPG's Deutsch LA and Havas' Arnold. Representatives from VML noted that their agency continues to work on T-Mobile's customer-relationship-management business. VML also added that its Village Marketing influencer agency won T-Mobile's influencer business during the review, and it had been performiung influencer work for the company since August. Longtime T-Mobile partner Panay Films will continue to develop TV and digital video spots for the brand, including its Super Bowl commercials. Dentsu Creative, meanwhile will focus on broader brand strategy, helping T-Mobile define the next chapter of its "Un-carrier" positioning, developing a clear platform for the brand, and establishing how the company will engage customers through content and experiences. All of T-Mobile's agency partners will tap into that work, with Dentsu Creative also developing targeted creative pieces for T-Mobile's network, sponsorships and Hispanic audiences. A significant part of T-Mobile’s brand strategy pitch involved finding a long-term strategic partner to bring it into the next phase of its existence. When T-Mobile positioned itself as the upstart "Un-carrier" back in 2013, it was well before the company's nearly two-year merger with Sprint. Dentsu Creative offered new strategy and fresh creative and visual perspective that T-Mobile wants to make a part of its day-to-day customer experience going forward. “From the very start of the process, it was clear that there was shared ambition for pushing boundaries, which is exactly why we built Dentsu Creative—to be able to take a holistic view of brands and incorporate results-driven strategic thinking that goes beyond advertising," said Abbey Klaassen, U.S. CEO at Dentsu Creative. According to COMvergence, T-Mobile spent approximately a billion dollars on measured marketing over the past year. T-Mobile's move marks the second large recent account shift among the telecoms, as Verizon moved all of its consumer marketing from McCann to Ogilvy in September. More than just TV spots T-Mobile's partnership with Dentsu Creative also advances the company’s recent efforts around its 5G network, which leaned heavily into both sponsorships and broad, cosmopolitan fanbases. The provider serves as a primary sponsor of Major League Baseball, with a strong presence at marquee events including its All-Star Game and World Series, and digital offerings including applications that use 5G to enhance the on-field action. T-Mobile also showed up at Formula 1’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2023, branding one of the race’s turns as “Turn 5G” and sponsoring a full weekend’s worth of entertainment. During the National Football League season, it partnered with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to blitz official NFL sponsor Verizon. Those spots also connected one of U.S. football’s biggest stars to broadcasts of the Liga MX soccer league that T-Mobile sponsors in Mexico through TelevisaUnivison—which also provides T-Mobile customers free subscriptions to its ViX+ Spanish-language streaming service. From teaming up with the PGA of America to reach golfers to placing its name on sports facilities in Seattle; Las Vegas; Kansas City, Mo.; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, T-Mobile has used its sponsorship strength to reach multiple corners of the consumer landscape. Under the leadership of Rafael Rizuto—Dentsu Creative’s chief creative officer, U.S. and Hispanic LATAM—Dentsu Creative plans on using "disruptive positioning, creative storytelling, social, performance and cultural fluency" to help T-Mobile grow among a new generation of customers. "As our brand has evolved—from the underdog to now the network leader—it’s more imperative than ever that we continue to put the customer at the center of everything we do in order to ensure that we deliver the most relevant and creative content and experiences," said Mike Katz, president of marketing, strategy and products at T-Mobile. "Dentsu Creative has set the bar high with its strategic, customer-centric approach and fresh ideas to help T-Mobile as we begin telling the next chapter of the Un-carrier story." Momentum for Dentsu Creative It has been a whirlwind 18 months for Dentsu Creative. After the holding company consolidated DentsuMB, Isobar and 360i into Dentsu Creative, a number of key leaders departed or were forced out of the company, including global CEO Wendy Clark, global CCO Fred Levron, Dentsu Creative U.S. CEO Paulo Fogaca and chief client officer Jacki Kelley. Klaassen took the reins for Dentsu Creative from Fogaca, and Dentsu has significant new business momentum in the U.S. for the first time since the consolidation of its service lines. The agency won the social accounts for AppleTV+ and Walmart last year, Carat won media duties for Papa Johns, and now the T-Mobile win could be one of the most notable wins of 2024. The agency also played a significant role in driving strong growth for Subway, and Dentsu helped 7-Eleven find new cultural cachet with car enthusiasts.