Compared to many agencies, CWA has a long history.

Leicester designer Chris Whitmore founded CWA or Chris Whitmore Associates back in 1965.

Working out of a converted shoe factory, Chris quickly built a strong reputation for intelligent design and exemplary customer service.

Known affectionately as “Mr all nighter” Chris would go beyond expectation to meet his clients’ deadlines, no matter how challenging.

That’s probably why Lex Wilkinson Transport, one of Chris’ first clients are still with the agency today under the banner of FedEX.

Chris retired from the business he loved in 1997 and moved to Cornwall where he died peacefully on 18th December 2000 after struggling to beat cancer.

Chris’s legacy is a passion for brave design, unstinting customer service, and a relaxed, hands on management style, all hallmarks of the company which proudly bears his name today.

Following Chris’s retirement, fellow Director Roger Goodyear took over the ownership and the day to day running of CWA.

Apparently the “quintessential English gentleman” Roger was actually Scottish through and through!

The consummate professional, Roger’s charm, marketing insight and good old sales technique secured CWA an enviable client list, adding such names as Saab and Volvo, both still major clients today!

Under Roger’s direction the company developed and expanded, particularly in the area of live events.

In a bid to expand their event capability CWA looked around for an experienced producer and found one at top London agency Purchasepoint.

A young, creative and hyper confident Patrick Veasey joined CWA in the summer of 1991.

Patrick’s “youthful enthusiasm” was the perfect foil for Roger’s gravitas and the two quickly began to reinvent CWA into the international company it is today.

Success followed success as the team broke first into Europe and then into America establishing CWA’s capability for large scale international product launches.

At home, Patrick started to extend CWA’s design capability into advertising, winning Minolta, the agency's first above the line account.

Great friends as well as close colleagues Roger, chose Patrick to be his successor making him a Director in 1996.

2002 saw Roger retire from the business and return to his beloved Scottish fishing village Portsoy, whilst Patrick took over the ownership of the company.

Under his guidance CWA has continued to expand internationally, finding new clients in China and Europe and has continued to differentiate itself through it’s creative and client focused multi-disciplinary teams.

The story continues....