WPP agency VMLY&R has been appointed to the prestigious Australian Defence Force Recruiting (DFR) creative and digital account following a detailed evaluation process.

As the creative agency, VMLY&R will provide all creative communications and digital services under the government contract from 1 April 2019.

VMLY&R takes over the account in place of Host/Havas, which had held it since 2013, and was only re-appointed by DFR in April last year following a tender process.

Transition to the new contract arrangement began on 14 January 2019, with handover of the CADS services to VMLY&R to be completed on 1 April 2019.

Director General of DFR, Air Commodore Sue McGready, said: “VMLY&R bring experience and expertise that will enable DFR to recruit Australian Defence Force members into the future.

“We look forward to developing a strong partnership with the team at VMLY&R over the coming months to set us up for the years to come.”

“I would also like to thank Host/Havas for their achievements with DFR over the past four-and-a-half years in an industry that has seen rapid expansion and change.”

VMLY&R’s executive leadership team of Paul Nagy, Aden Hepburn and Peter Bosilkovski said in a joint statement: “We’re honoured and delighted to be partnering with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) – a modern, innovative, people-focused organisation and one of Australia’s largest employers.

“This is both a new business win and a homecoming for our agency group, with Y&R previously having held the account for more than a decade.

“We’re thrilled to be once again partnering with the ADF and, of course, very proud to be entrusted to provide our services to support the recruitment of members for all three services of the ADF.”

VMLY&R executive creative director Jake Barrow said he was looking forward to working with DFR again.

“To say I’m proud to be working with DFR again is an understatement,” he said.

“Our previous years with DFR produced many career highlights for our staff and I can now call this moment another. I’d like to give a huge thanks to the passionate and talented team at VMLY&R, who are all raring to start.”

The appointment comes not long after WPP merged agencies VML and Y&R to deliver a more contemporary and integrated creative and digital offering for clients.