• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup

2

The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less

1

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup

2

The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Financebranding

Split ‘n spin: Corporate restructurings mean rebranding work for ad industry

By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 6, 2014, 11:00 AM ET
Visitors ride a merry-go-round during the opening day of the Oktoberfest in Munich
Visitors ride a merry-go-round during the opening day of the 181st Oktoberfest in Munich September 20, 2014. Millions of beer drinkers from around the world will come to the Bavarian capital over the next two weeks for the Oktoberfest. REUTERS/Michael Dalder (GERMANY - Tags: SOCIETY TRAVEL TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR471YWPhotograph by Michael Dalder — Reuters
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Advertising gurus are licking their chops at the recent wave of corporate spin-offs. New companies spawned by the restructurings and the legacy businesses left behind are bound to spend big money getting the word out about their new identities.

It’s welcome news for ad and branding agencies that will do much of the work. Call it an employment program for copy writers, ad designers and media planners.

Last week, Fiat Chrysler disclosed plans to spin its iconic Ferrari luxury sports car line into its own company. Madison Square Garden said it would cleave its live entertainment business from its sports properties.

These spin-offs follow a series in the tech industry including Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), Symantec (SYMC) and eBay, which said in September that it is spinning out the online payment service PayPal. A few other recent examples from outside the tech world include Procter & Gamble’s spin-off of battery brand Duracell as well as USA Today-owner Gannett’s decision earlier this year to split up its print and broadcast divisions. (And, not to forget, Time Warner spun off Fortune‘s parent company, Time Inc., in June.)


“Definitely not business as usual,” says Josh Feldmeth, CEO of branding consultancy Interbrand North America, a division of the advertising conglomerate Omnicom. “It’s really an exciting time.”

Newly-spawned companies need to let the world know they exist. Meanwhile, companies doing the spinning must often reintroduce themselves to ensure that customers, clients, employees and shareholders are confident in their new direction. Billions of dollars are at risk.

Branding consultants like those at Interbrand are often called in by long-term clients before a decision to split or spin is even finalized to give some thought ahead of time to how restructuring will affect their image, Feldmeth says,. “Any time you have a major business event like that it affects the brand,” he says.

The first thing companies considering a split have to consider is what role their brand plays in their business so they can determine how it may be impacted by a transaction and how much revenue could be at risk. While corporate restructurings are meant to create shareholder value over a long-term period, major changes are always dangerous.

PayPal, for example, is already a well-known and profitable brand. But PayPal and eBay (EBAY) will now need to make a strong case for themselves as viable standalone companies – especially after eBay CEO John Donahoe insisted earlier this year that the two businesses were stronger together.

And, when companies pull the trigger on a major restructuring, such as a split or a spin-off, the original company inevitably needs to spell out its growth plans and explain how their business will be better off, Feldmeth adds.

H.P., which just weeks ago said it was splitting its enterprise business from its computer and printer business, has already started its rebranding efforts, taking out at least one full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal to highlight its products for corporate customers. H.P. also showed off a new desktop computer with 3D scanning and printing technology that will be sold by the soon to be split-off hardware division.

Of course, new standalone companies have a tough road ahead to forge an identity that can stack up against their legacy company, especially when the original has a brand name as big as H.P. or General Electric (GE). But, with that challenge also comes the need to step out of the parent company’s shadow.

“One of the great opportunities for companies that are spinning off is to really bring customers into the center of their organization and get out from underneath some of the legacy that sometimes slows down innovation,” Feldmeth says.

Branding gone wrong can undermine customer and shareholder confidence. Companies are walking a fine line.

“It’s a moment for something new,” Feldmeth says. “Any miscue that dislodges customer expectations or disrupts your ability to do business in the market is going to have an impact on the revenue line and the profitability.”

About the Author
By Tom Huddleston Jr.
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

A Viking ship named Havhingsten af Glendalough - the Sea Stallion of Glendalough -, the world's largest replica of a Viking warship, sets out 01 JUly 2007 from the Viking Museum in Roskilde, Denmark, on a voyage to Dublin in Ireland, where it is scheduled to arrive 14 August.
EuropeScience
1,000-year-old massive textile factory unearthed in Denmark—and it belonged to the Vikings
By James Brooks and The Associated PressJune 24, 2026
2 hours ago
Young couple standing in a brightly lit home
Real EstateHousing
A big look at the state of housing in America: Boomers won’t sell, millennials can’t buy, and Gen Z gets to watch the whole thing sort itself out
By Tristan BoveJune 24, 2026
3 hours ago
Wind turbines on yellow grass
Environmentwind power
California threatens to hit Trump with lawsuit if he doesn’t revive massive wind farm project off central coast
By Jennifer McDermott and The Associated PressJune 24, 2026
3 hours ago
Warren leans in to talk to Scott
PoliticsHousing
Congress’s landmark housing bill could backfire on millions of renters
By Jacqueline MunisJune 24, 2026
3 hours ago
Institute's Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton Hotel,on May 6, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.
RetailSpaceX
Elon Musk was the world’s first trillionaire for 12 days
By Eva RoytburgJune 24, 2026
4 hours ago
President Donald Trump pictured in September 2025 signing an executive order that overhauled the H-1B visa program.
EconomyImmigration
Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
By Tristan BoveJune 24, 2026
5 hours ago

Most Popular

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
1 day ago
The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting
Economy
The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting
By Jacqueline MunisJune 24, 2026
17 hours ago
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Retail
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
9 hours ago
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America 'doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire'
Asia
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America 'doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire'
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
10 hours ago
Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 23, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of gold as of June 23, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of June 23, 2026
By Danny BakstJune 23, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.