What we've been up to

VML, one of the world’s leading digital marketing agencies, has dramatically expanded operations in London by rebranding partner agency GT - previously Good Technology - as VML London.

By rebranding GT, a VML subsidiary since 2004, VML accelerates into the European marketplace at full speed. Immediately, it adds 70 talented marketers and a desirable client roster to VML’s European operations, while simultaneously providing a greatly strengthened offering.

VML, one of the world’s leading digital marketing agencies, has dramatically expanded operations in London by rebranding partner agency GT - previously Good Technology - as VML London.

By rebranding GT, a VML subsidiary since 2004, VML accelerates into the European marketplace at full speed. Immediately, it adds 70 talented marketers and a desirable client roster to VML’s European operations, while simultaneously providing a greatly strengthened offering.

VML London will serve as the UK office and European headquarters for the 18-year-old interactive agency, recently named a digital marketing leader by Forrester Research, Inc.*

Chris Loll, Managing Partner of VML London, said “The talent, capabilities and award-winning work of GT takes a step forward today as VML London. We are now even better positioned to deliver on our mission - to inspire our clients every day with creative and technical solutions that help exceed their business goals”

VML London will continue to support a respected group of client partners, including BBC, Microsoft, Premier Inn, BACARDI, Xbox, HMV, University of Cambridge, SAP, Poetry Archive, Sperian, The Futures Company and Colgate-Palmolive.

“VML and GT have enjoyed a collaborative relationship since day one,” said Simon Milliship, VML London’s Executive Creative Director and European Managing Director. “We’re absolutely in sync regarding the creative collision of marketing and technology - presenting new opportunities to connect brands with consumers in meaningful ways.”

A wide variety of highly visible projects have been produced by the London office recently, including an immersive ‘digital museum’ created for the BBC and The British Museum (visit A History of the World to see the programme). Additionally, effective work has recently been launched for Xbox LIVE, Premier Inn, BACARDI and Microsoft.

“Over the last year, VML has been operating in Europe with staff in London, Milan and Prague, and supporting clients in Hungary, Germany and France,” said Matt Anthony, VML CEO. “Solidifying our base of operations in London unquestionably complements our global offering in terms of depth, digital capabilities and technical expertise.”

* Forrester Wave™: US Interactive Agencies – Strategy and Execution, Q3 2009 report. 

In support of an unprecedented public service partnership focused on world history, the BBC and the British Museum have launched a large-scale digital museum for the new landmark series on BBC Radio 4, ‘A History of the World in 100 Objects’.

The radio programme is a narrative of global history told through the British Museum’s unparalleled world collection. Tapping into the unique power of the stories behind objects, its legacy has been secured through a website commissioned by the BBC and created by VML London.

In support of an unprecedented public service partnership focused on world history, the BBC and the British Museum have launched a large-scale digital museum for the new landmark series on BBC Radio 4, ‘A History of the World in 100 Objects’.

The radio programme is a narrative of global history told through the British Museum’s unparalleled world collection. Tapping into the unique power of the stories behind objects, its legacy has been secured through a website commissioned by the BBC and created by VML London.The ‘A History of the World’ website complements this new method of documenting world history by showcasing the British Museum objects featured in the radio series, presenting items from over 350 local and regional museums and allowing website users the opportunity to upload objects that help tell a history of the world.

Designed as an immersive website with an intuitive time-based navigation, ‘A History of the World’ uses explorative technologies like deep zoom to send users on a creative voyage through history.  This journey, coupled with the ability to add artefacts and a continually changing ‘object of the day’ promotion (tied to the broadcasted content) not only helps to maintain users’ interest but encourages them to play and learn about world history.

Technically, the website was built using The BBC Platform and incorporates many different BBC systems to enable the seamless integration of programme content with object information from both users and museums across the country.

Chris Loll, Managing Partner at VML London, commented, “We are proud to support the BBC and the British Museum in this remarkable endeavour that will redefine how we all interact with our world history.”

More about ‘A History of the World in 100 Objects’

The ‘A History of the World in 100 Objects’ radio series is written and narrated by the British Museum Director, Neil MacGregor and produced by BBC Radio 4. The 15-minute programmes will be broadcast in the key timeslot of 9.45am from Monday to Friday (repeated at 7.45pm). Each programme will focus on one object from the Museum’s extensive collection and will include additional voices from a range of contributors, including Bob Geldof, Wole Soyinka, Grayson Perry, Madhur Jaffrey and Seamus Heaney.

Each week of programmes will be tied to a particular theme, such as ‘after the ice age’ or ‘meeting the gods’. Objects have been selected to cover the broadest possible chronological and geographical period, and tell a history of the world from two million years ago to the present day. The 100 programmes will be broadcast in three tranches throughout 2010.

Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, said: “This partnership between the BBC and the British Museum is the fulfilment of an Enlightenment dream. Parliament set up the British Museum to allow all ‘studious and curious persons’ both ‘native and foreign born’ to construct their own history of the world and to find their place in it. Thanks to the incomparable reach of the BBC – radio, television, World Service and web – as the series develops, everybody across the UK and across the world will be able to participate, using not just the things in the museums, but their own objects as well, to tell their history of the world.”

Mark Damazer, Controller of Radio 4, said: “The partnership with the British Museum has brought to Radio 4 the most exciting history project in my five years as Radio 4 Controller. The idea of ‘A History of the World’ told through objects is audacious and it has been endlessly stimulating to see two creative organisations – animated by public service – coming together to produce what I believe will be thrilling programmes – not only on Radio 4, but now across the BBC.”

The BBC is encouraging listener engagement and participation and has built partnerships with 350 museums across the country.  They will be producing  a 13-part television series on Children’s BBC  (CBBC) and coverage on all the BBC’s Local and National (Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) services.  Learning initiatives are being developed through BBC Schools and the British Museum, including teacher’s packs and museum trails.

BBC Radio 5 live launched a refreshed website to highlight a new schedule and integrate with the station’s programming to reflect listener contributions.

BBC Radio 5 live – always on, always broadcasting – offers an open window into the world of current affairs, entertainment and sport for more than six million listeners every week.

BBC Radio 5 live launched a refreshed website to highlight a new schedule and integrate with the station’s programming to reflect listener contributions.

BBC Radio 5 live – always on, always broadcasting – offers an open window into the world of current affairs, entertainment and sport for more than six million listeners every week.

The new schedule and programming updates were created to enhance how 5 live engages with audiences across the channel’s 24-hour service and introduces a more dynamic, energetic and contemporary look and feel.  Equally exciting, the launch includes a new use of technology for the BBC, introducing Live Now – a unique offering which integrates 5 live listeners’ texts, emails and online messages into the site, allowing a much richer level of programme interaction.

These changes, along with the desire to better reflect the true nature of Radio 5 live, have all been incorporated into its new website, so users are given a ‘Live Online’ experience, interacting with the station’s programmes the same way they do on-air.

VML London is the creative agency who developed the website, working with the BBC on the design and technology of the site. Their goal was to enhance the station’s online offering, ensuring it reflected the dynamism and depth of the channel.

Allie Ello, VML London’s Group Account Director, commented, “We’re really proud to have worked with BBC Radio 5 live in creating this innovative website which transforms not only the way users can interact with Radio 5 live content but also changes the way the station creates and supports its programming.”

The new website is live on www.bbc.co.uk/5live

VML London has been awarded a Gold CPD Accreditation Standard 2008 by the IPA.

There are 14,900 practitioners participating in the CPD programme and more agencies than ever before becoming Accredited. However VML London is one of only eleven agencies to have been awarded at this higher level – and the only digital agency.

VML London is delighted to announce its appointment by entertainment retail giant HMV as its digital agency of record in the UK following a four-way pitch.

The appointment, which is effective immediately, covers a wide spectrum of HMV's digital communications needs, including strategy, site design, e-commerce and digital marketing.

VML London is delighted to announce its appointment by entertainment retail giant HMV as its digital agency of record in the UK following a four-way pitch.

The appointment, which is effective immediately, covers a wide spectrum of HMV's digital communications needs, including strategy, site design, e-commerce and digital marketing.

HMV is a truly innovative brand, redefining and flexing to the market and leaving many in their tracks. It is a hugely exciting time to come together and partner with HMV in evolving their digital offer. We couldn't be more proud.

Justin Moodie, Head of Online at HMV UK, said: "We had a great pitch process, and all the agencies involved gave an excellent account of themselves - and we're grateful for all their efforts, but the agency that ultimately shone through for us as being a really creative, commercial and customer-focused agency was VML London. Their passion, thinking and experience in e-commerce mirrors our own commitment to our customers and to our online store. The hmv.com team are really looking forward to working with them."