UM Worldwide

UM Worldwide: Overview

UM Worldwide (formerly Universal McCann) is a global media agency network operating under IPG Mediabrands. As a borderless and boundless media company, UM specializes in media strategy, planning, and buying across all major platforms and channels. The agency positions itself at the intersection of human intelligence and artificial intelligence, helping brands navigate the evolving media landscape.

What sets UM apart is their proprietary Full Color Media approach, which leverages the power of Brand Patterns to discover what makes each brand unique. Pattern recognition sits at the core of their methodology, combining human intelligence with artificial intelligence to identify growth opportunities. The agency challenges the industry status quo with their "Stand Against Bland" philosophy, rejecting average work and mediocrity in favor of breakthrough thinking.

UM operates as a unified global community built around three core values: Community, Courage, and Curiosity. These values drive their culture of diversity, bold ideas, and relentless questioning. The agency emphasizes that human intelligence must work as the catalyst to artificial intelligence, thinking critically about brand differentiation in an era where bland brands face existential threats.

With a network spanning 100+ markets and 120+ offices, UM serves a roster of global clients including recent wins like 7-Eleven, Beyond Yoga, and Tourism Ireland, handling everything from media strategy to planning and buying across markets.

What Services Does UM Worldwide Provide?

UM Worldwide offers comprehensive media agency services built around their Full Color Media proposition:

Media Strategy & Planning

• Brand pattern recognition and analysis
• Full Color Brand Pattern development
• Media strategy development
• Cross-channel media planning
• Market research and audience insights

Media Buying

• Media buying and negotiation
• Budget optimization
• Performance tracking and optimization

Brand Intelligence

• Human intelligence and artificial intelligence integration
• Pattern recognition at the intersection of AI and human insight
• Brand differentiation strategy
• Competitive analysis

Creative Media Solutions

• Media innovation
• Campaign development
• Multi-platform activation

What Industries Does UM Worldwide Serve?

Based on recent client wins and announcements, UM Worldwide serves diverse industries:

Retail & Consumer Goods

• Convenience retail (7-Eleven)
• Apparel and activewear (Beyond Yoga)

Tourism & Hospitality

• Tourism boards and destination marketing (Tourism Ireland)

The agency's Full Color Media approach and global scale allow them to work across multiple sectors, adapting their Brand Patterns methodology to each industry's unique characteristics and challenges.

What Brands Has UM Worldwide Helped?

UM Worldwide has partnered with major brands across various industries:

Retail & Convenience

• 7-Eleven

Apparel & Fashion

• Beyond Yoga

Tourism & Travel

• Tourism Ireland

Notable Recent Wins:

• 7-Eleven: Won media strategy, planning and buying responsibilities in the U.S. market
• Beyond Yoga: Named as Media Agency of Record
• Tourism Ireland: Appointed as new media strategy, planning & buying agency following a global review

Key Differentiators

• Full Color Media Proposition: Proprietary approach leveraging Brand Patterns and pattern recognition to unlock growth
• Stand Against Bland Philosophy: Commitment to rejecting average work and fighting brand blandness in media
• AI + Human Intelligence Integration: Unique positioning at the intersection of artificial intelligence and human intelligence
• Global Scale with Local Expertise: 100+ markets, 120+ offices, 3,000+ employees operating as ONE UM community
• Core Values-Driven Culture: Built on Community, Courage, and Curiosity to drive innovation and bold thinking
• Pattern Recognition Expertise: Specialized methodology combining human and AI capabilities to identify unique brand patterns

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