London-based brand communications agency Modus and BPCM, which specialises in brand building and communications for luxury brands worldwide, have announced the joining together of both companies to form ModusBPCM.

With decades of brand communication experience, these two independent agencies provide strategy and counsel to the world’s most innovative and dynamic brands within luxury, fashion, beauty, travel and technology on both sides of the Atlantic.

“We have been friends and colleagues for nearly two decades. The BPCM and Modus company cultures and strategic vision have been aligned for years.  Merging our London businesses felt like a natural step. What we are most excited about is bringing BPCM’s depth of experience in Beauty, Travel, Spirits and Digital to enhance Modus’s existing expertise in Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle”, explains Vanessa von Bismarck.

After 30 years, Modus founder Diana Hall is leaving the business and it was an opportune time for Julian Vogel to look for synergies within an international network, to expand the company’s reach and scope. ModusBPCM will be intimately networked with BPCM’s offices in New York and Los Angeles which will open up a new array of services to all clients.  ModusBPCM’s access to Europe will offer a wider range of possibilities to the company’s American clients.

“Vanessa, Julian and I all agree that the old ways of doing PR are becoming obsolete.  Our business model has already moved away from pure publicity and we are instead using traditional media as one piece of an overall strategy that combines experiential, digital, influencer and customer acquisition strategies.  For years Julian, Vanessa and I have acted as a sounding board for one another and merging feels like a natural evolution for our businesses and our teams”, commented Carrie Ellen Phillips.

Modus’s current mix of fashion, beauty and lifestyle clients will be complimented by additional fashion brands from BPCM London such as Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, ALDO, Kering Eyewear and Longchamp.

ModusBPCM’s digital capabilities will be enhanced through partnership with BPCM’s Digital and Influencer Marketing teams in New York and Los Angeles. The new company will also share integrated services with BPCM LA, led by partner Ali Taekman, which offers VIP, West Coast Communications, Events and a recently-created Beauty and Influencer Marketing Division.

ModusBPCM’s combined operation will be located at 10-12 Heddon Street in the centre of London. Industry veteran Catherine Bowman (nee Chapman), current Managing Director of BPCM London, former Head of Global Public Relations for Net-a-Porter and former Modus Fashion Director, will be Managing Director of ModusBPCM. Julian Vogel will become CEO of ModusBPCM. BPCM founders Carrie Ellen Philips and Vanessa von Bismarck, will continue to be based in New York and will work alongside Julian to grow ModusBPCM.  BPCM LA and BPCM NY remain entities of BPCM Worldwide and benefit from the enhanced offerings of ModusBPCM.