Delta Selects Wieden+Kennedy New York as Global Agency of Record

ATLANTA – Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) has tapped Wieden+Kennedy (W+K) to become the airline’s global agency of record.

“W+K is an excellent agency with a proven track record of innovation and creativity, based on unique customer insights,” said Tim Mapes, Delta’s senior vice president of Marketing. “We look forward to working with W+K as we focus the Delta brand on the needs of Delta customers globally.

The selection of W+K marks another milestone in the airline’s merger with Northwest. W+K will work with Delta to create a long-term global advertising and brand campaign for the new Delta. The airline plans to unveil the campaign to employees in late 2009 and externally in 2010.

“Throughout the pitch process, we found ourselves continually impressed by Delta’s spirit and determination,” says Dan Wieden, president and CEO of W+K. “If a man is measured by the company he keeps, we are proud to stand beside Delta. We look forward to making great work for the world’s number one airline for years to come.”

W+K’s account pitch team included W+K’s New York and Portland offices, supported by W+K’s international teams in Tokyo, Shanghai, Delhi, Amsterdam and London. The Delta account will be led by W+K New York with regional support from W+K Portland, Amsterdam and Tokyo.

Wieden+Kennedy, founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1982, is an independent, privately held international advertising agency with offices in Amsterdam, Delhi, London, New York, Portland, Shanghai and Tokyo. A full-service, creatively led communications company, Wieden+Kennedy has helped build some of the strongest global brands, including Nike, ESPN, Honda, Electronic Arts, P&G and Coca-Cola.

Delta Air Lines is the world’s largest airline. From its hubs in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Salt Lake City, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam and Tokyo-Narita, Delta, its Northwest subsidiary and Delta Connection carriers offer service to 370 destinations in 66 countries and serve more than 170 million passengers each year. Delta’s marketing alliances allow customers to earn and redeem either SkyMiles or WorldPerks on more than 16,000 daily flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta‘s more than 70,000 employees worldwide are reshaping the aviation industry as the only U.S. airline to offer a full global network. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and flight status at delta.com.