Editing WPP plc

{{short description|British multinational advertising and public relations company}}
{{other uses|WPP (disambiguation){{!}}WPP}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = WPP plc
| logo = Logo of WPP plc.svg
| logo_size = 170px
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{LSE|WPP}}<br>{{NYSE|WPP}}<br>[[FTSE 100 Index|FTSE 100 Component]]
| industry = {{ubl|[[Communications]]|[[Advertising agency|Advertising]]|[[Public relations]]}}
| founders = {{ubl|[[Martin Sorrell]]|[[Preston Rabl]]}}(as an advertising company)
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{ubl|[[Roberto Quarta]] ([[chairman]])|Mark Read ([[CEO]])}}
| products = 
| services = {{flatlist|
* Integrated networks
* media
* data and insights
* public relations and public affairs
* brand consulting
* production
* health and wellness<ref name="Our companies">{{cite web |title=Our companies |work=WPP plc |url=https://www.wpp.com/contacts#tab-companies |access-date=September 16, 2019}}</ref>
}}
| revenue = {{decrease}} £14,741&nbsp;million (2024)<ref name=PreliminaryResults>{{cite web|url=https://www.wpp.com/-/media/project/wpp/files/investors/2025/wpp-2024-preliminary-results.pdf|title= Preliminary Results 2024|publisher=WPP plc|access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{increase}} £1,325&nbsp;million (2024)<ref name=PreliminaryResults/>
| net_income = {{increase}} £629&nbsp;million (2024)<ref name=PreliminaryResults/>
| assets = 
| num_employees = 100,000 (2025)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wpp.com/about|title=About us|publisher=WPP|access-date=9 February 2025}}</ref>
| parent = 
| subsid = {{ubl|[[AKQA]]|[[Burson Cohn & Wolfe|BCW]]|CMI Media Group|[[Essence Global|EssenceMediacom]]|[[Grey Global Group|Grey]]|[[Hill+Knowlton Strategies]]|[[Mindshare (firm)|Mindshare]]|[[Ogilvy (agency)|Ogilvy]]|[[MEC (media agency)|Wavemaker]]|[[UWG Inc.|UWG]]|[[VML (agency)|VML]]}}
| footnotes = 
| foundation = {{ubl
|{{start date and age|df=yes|1971}} (Wire and Plastic Products plc)
|{{start date and age|1985}} (Sorrell acquisition and entry into advertising)
}}
| location = [[London]], England, UK
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.wpp.com}}
}}

'''WPP plc''' is a British [[Multinational corporation|multinational]] [[communications]], [[advertising agency|advertising]], [[public relations]], technology, and commerce holding company headquartered in [[London]], England. It is the world's largest advertising company, as of 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=The world's biggest ad agency is going all in on AI with Nvidia's help |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/29/tech/nvidia-wpp-ai-advertising/index.html |access-date=21 March 2024 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> WPP plc owns many companies, which include advertising, public relations, media, and [[market research]] networks such as [[AKQA]], [[Burson Cohn & Wolfe|BCW]], CMI Media Group, [[Essence Global|EssenceMediacom]], [[Finsbury (public relations)|Finsbury]], [[Grey Global Group|Grey]], [[Hill & Knowlton]], [[Mindshare (firm)|Mindshare]], [[Ogilvy (agency)|Ogilvy]], [[Wavemaker (media agency)|Wavemaker]], and [[VML (agency)|VML]]. It is one of the "Big Four" agency companies, alongside [[Publicis]], [[The Interpublic Group of Companies]], and [[Omnicom Group]].<ref name="Advertising's Big Four: It's Their World Now">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/31/business/advertising-s-big-four-it-s-their-world-now.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm| title=Advertising's Big Four: It's Their World Now| work=The New York Times| date=31 March 2002| last1=Elliott| first1=Stuart}}</ref> WPP has a primary listing on the [[London Stock Exchange]], and is a constituent of the [[FTSE 100 Index]].<ref name="LSE">{{cite web |title=WPP |work=London Stock Exchange |url=https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/prices-and-markets/stocks/summary/company-summary/JE00B8KF9B49JEGBXSET1.html?lang=en |access-date=17 September 2019}}</ref>

On 14 April 2018, [[Martin Sorrell]] retired 33 years after founding the company, following allegations of bullying and sexual indescretions,<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Goodley |first1=Simon |last2=Davies |first2=Rob |date=2018-06-11 |title=Martin Sorrell's WPP exit came amid bullying and sex worker allegations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jun/11/martin-sorrells-wpp-exit-came-amid-bullying-and-sex-worker-allegations |access-date=2024-10-29 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 June 2018 |title=Martin Sorrell's downfall: why the ad king left WPP |url=https://www.ft.com/content/617147b4-6cda-11e8-852d-d8b934ff5ffa |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-10-29 |newspaper=Financial Times }}</ref> and [[Roberto Quarta]] was appointed [[Chairperson|chairman]].<ref name="bloomberg-april-2018">{{cite news|title=WPP CEO Sorrell Quits After Three Decades at Top of Ad World|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-14/wpp-ceo-sorrell-quits-after-three-decades-at-top-of-ad-world|website=Bloomberg.com|access-date=14 April 2018|language=en|date=14 April 2018}}</ref> Mark Read was appointed [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] in September 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-wpp-ceo-idUKKCN1LJ0O4|title=Ad giant WPP names Read as CEO for post-Sorrell era|first=Kate|last=Holton|work=Reuters|date=3 September 2018 }}</ref>

==History==
The company was founded as '''Wire and Plastic Products plc''' to manufacture wire shopping baskets in 1971. In 1985 [[Martin Sorrell]] and [[Preston Rabl]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rothenberg|first=Randall|date=1989-07-02|title=Brits buy up the ad business|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/02/magazine/brits-buy-up-the-ad-business.html|access-date=2021-11-08|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> searching for a listed company through which to build a worldwide marketing services company, bought a controlling stake.<ref name="history">{{cite web| url=http://www.wpp.com/wpp/about/whoweare/history.htm|title=Group history|access-date=30 August 2010|publisher=WPP plc}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/jul/04/wpp-sir-martin-sorrell-profile|title=Sir Martin Sorrell: advertising man who made the industry's biggest pitch|access-date=12 July 2012|work=The Guardian| date=4 July 2010}}</ref>

In 1986, WPP became the parent company of Picquotware, a manufacturer of teapots and jugs, based in [[Northampton]]. In November 1987 a fire destroyed the Northampton factory, so production was restarted at [[Burntwood]] in Staffordshire. On 25 November 2004 WPP closed the Burntwood factory, and stopped manufacturing Picquotware; all assets were sold on 14 December 2004.<ref>[http://www.picquot.co.uk/history.htm Piquotware History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211111618/http://www.picquot.co.uk/history.htm |date=11 December 2006 }}</ref>

In the 1980s, WPP began its strategy of growth via acquisitions.<ref name="Klara18">{{cite news |title=This Timeline Shows How WPP Acquired Its Way to Fame and Notoriety Over 3 Decades |last1=Klara |first1=Robert |work=Adweek |url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/this-timeline-shows-how-wpp-acquired-its-way-to-fame-and-notoriety-over-3-decades/ |date=18 April 2018 |access-date=17 September 2019}}</ref>  In later years, WPP regularly acquired dozens of companies annually.<ref name="Klara18"/> In January 1987, the company acquired Scott Stern Associates, at the time Scotland's largest design and advertising company.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RDVdDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA413|title=Macmillan's Mergers and Acquisitions Year Book|page=413|first=K D |last=George|publisher=Macmillan Publishing|year=1988|isbn=978-0-333-45865-5}}</ref> In the same year (1987), the company acquired J. Walter Thompson (including [[J. Walter Thompson|JWT]], [[Hill & Knowlton]], and MRB Group) for $566m.<ref name="history"/> The company was listed on the NASDAQ in 1988 (and later switched its secondary listing to the NYSE).<ref name="Telegraph-NASDAQ">{{cite news |title=WPP: a history |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/9329447/WPP-a-history.html |date=13 June 2012 |access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> In 1989, it acquired Ogilvy Group for $864m.<ref name="history"/>

WPP's acquisitions continued into the 1990s, when WPP bought firms in the healthcare advertising, [[digital marketing]], [[online shopping]], [[digital media]], data management, retail and [[corporate consultancy]], and [[sports marketing]] industries. This included the 1999 acquisition of Lambie-Nairn.<ref name="Klara18"/> In 1998, WPP formed an alliance with Asatsu-DK Inc. of Japan.<ref name="history"/>

In May 2000, WPP agreed to acquire the United States–based [[Young & Rubicam|Young & Rubicam Group]] for $5.7&nbsp;billion, in what was at the time the largest ever takeover in the advertising sector.<ref name=nyt952000>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/09/business/young-rubicam-agrees-to-5.7-billion-takeover-by-wpp.html|title=Young & Rubicam Agrees to $5.7 Billion Takeover by WPP|access-date=12 July 2012|work=The New York Times| date=9 May 2000}}</ref> The takeover made WPP the largest advertising company in the world measured by billings and revenue, overtaking [[Omnicom Group]] and [[Interpublic Group of Companies|Interpublic]].<ref name=nyt952000/>

In the 2000s, WPP Digital was created to develop the group's digital capabilities.<ref name="Sinclair07">{{cite news |title=WPP alliance makes the call for mobile phone marketing |last1=Sinclair |first1=Lara |work=The Australian |url=https://advance.lexis.com/api/permalink/e3280240-cbb3-43e7-81c0-f0f4888ac7a8/?context=1519360 |date=26 October 2007 |access-date=16 September 2019}}</ref> In October 2008, WPP acquired market research firm [[Taylor Nelson Sofres]] for £1.6&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stockopedia.co.uk/news/announcement/WPP/090306wpp4313o.htm|title=Stockopedia. Stock Screens, Stock Ranks, Stock Tips & Tricks|work=Stockopedia|access-date=21 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/wpp-bid-garners-82-tns-shareholder-approval-97183|title=WPP Bid Garners 82% TNS Shareholder Approval|access-date=12 July 2012|work=Ad Week| date=8 October 2008}}</ref> During 2009 WPP reduced its workforce by around 14,000 employees, or 12.3% of its then total staff numbers, in response to the onset of the [[2008–2012 global recession]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/mar/05/wpp-results-2009|title=WPP stable after 'brutal' 2009|access-date=12 July 2012|work=The Guardian| date=5 March 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/epic/wpp/7378917/WPP-profits-fall-despite-job-cuts.html|title=WPP profits fall despite job cuts |access-date=12 July 2012|work=The Telegraph| date=5 March 2010 }}</ref>

In June 2012, WPP agreed to acquire the digital advertising agency [[AKQA]] for US$540 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/business/global/wpp-acquires-akqa-to-beef-up-digital-marketing.html|title=WPP Acquires AKQA to Beef Up Digital Marketing|access-date=12 July 2012|work=The New York Times| date=20 June 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/jun/20/wpp-buys-majority-stake-akqa|title=WPP buys majority stake in AKQA|access-date=12 July 2012|work=The Guardian| date=20 June 2012}}</ref> In November 2015, WPP agreed to acquire a majority stake in [[Essence Global|Essence]], a global digital agency.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wpp.com/wpp/investor/financialnews/2015/nov/04/wpp-agrees-to-acquire-a-majority-stake-in-essence-the-leading-global-digital-agency/|title=WPP agrees to acquire a majority stake in digital agency Essence – WPP|website=www.wpp.com|access-date=21 November 2016}}</ref>

In November 2016, WPP announced it will be acquiring PEP, LLC, a project management and procurement company that oversees shopper marketing promotions for clients, in the US.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=WPP Adds Another Asset To Its Shopper Marketing Arsenal|url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/289998/wpp-adds-another-asset-to-its-shopper-marketing-ar.html|website=Media Post|language=en}}</ref>

Many of WPP's constituent agencies use [[Microsoft Windows]], and the organisation was among those hit by the [[2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine]], with some staff's computer access limited to [[webmail]] only as much as ten days later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/07/07/ad_giant_recovering_from_notpetya/|title=Largest advertising company in the world still wincing after NotPetya punch|website=The Register|date=7 July 2017|last=Hall|first=Kat|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="Nash18">{{cite news |title=One Year After NotPetya Cyberattack, Firms Wrestle With Recovery Costs |last1=Nash |first1=Kim S. |last2=Castellanos |first2=Sara |last3=Janofsky |first3=Adam |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/one-year-after-notpetya-companies-still-wrestle-with-financial-impacts-1530095906 |date=June 27, 2018 |access-date=September 16, 2019}}</ref>

WPP merged Burson-Marsteller with Cohn & Wolfe to become [[Burson Cohn & Wolfe|BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe)]] in February 2018.<ref name="PR-Week-merge1">{{cite news | last1=Bradley| first1=Diana| title=WPP Merges Burson-Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe| url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1458213/wpp-merges-burson-marsteller-cohn-wolfe| access-date=28 February 2018| publisher=PR Week| date=27 February 2018}}</ref>

In April 2018, Martin Sorrell retired after 33 years, following allegations of personal misconduct and misuse of company assets. Sorrell has denied the allegations.<ref name="bloomberg-april-2018"/> Chairman Roberto Quarta was temporarily named executive chairman.<ref name="bloomberg-april-2018"/> In September 2018, Mark Read, who was the global CEO of Wunderman,<ref name="Graham18">{{cite news |title=Who are Mark Read and Andrew Scott, WPP's new chief operating officers? |last1=Graham |first1=Megan |work=Ad Age |url=https://adage.com/article/agency-news/mark-read-andrew-scott-wpp-s-coos/313145 |date=17 April 2018 |access-date=16 September 2019}}</ref> was named CEO.<ref name="Sweney18">{{cite news |title=WPP advertising group to cut 3,500 jobs in £300m restructuring |last1=Sweney |first1=Mark |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/dec/11/wpp-advertising-cut-jobs-in-restructuring-martin-sorrell |date=11 December 2018 |access-date=16 September 2019}}</ref><ref name="Kostov18">{{cite news |title=Ad Giant WPP Taps Company Veteran Mark Read for CEO |last1=Kostov |first1=Nick |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/wpp-names-mark-read-as-its-new-ceo-1535913242 |date=September 3, 2018 |access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref>

In the late 2010s, the advertising industry faced significant challenges. Changes in the industry landscape included financial pressure on global clients, in particular [[fast-moving consumer goods]] clients, companies taking work in-house, the ability to directly advertise on tech platforms, and competition with consultancies.<ref name="Economist18">{{cite news |title=Sir Martin Sorrell leaves WPP in a sorry state |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/business/2018/04/21/sir-martin-sorrell-leaves-wpp-in-a-sorry-state |date=21 April 2018 |access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref><ref name="Proud17">{{cite news |title=WPP underestimates pinch from corporate austerity |last1=Proud |first1=Liam |work=Reuters |url=https://fr.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idUKKCN1B3147 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212200759/https://fr.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idUKKCN1B3147 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 December 2019 |date=23 August 2017 |access-date=19 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="Bond18">{{cite news |title=WPP squeezed by advertisers and digital disruption |last1=Bond |first1=Shannon |last2=Garrahan |first2=Matthew |last3=Mooney |first3=Attracta |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/15c7814a-1e3b-11e8-956a-43db76e69936 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/15c7814a-1e3b-11e8-956a-43db76e69936 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |date=2 March 2018 |access-date=19 November 2019}}</ref> While WPP had previously outperformed other companies in the industry, its growth slowed starting in 2017 and its market value dropped in 2018.<ref name="Holton18">{{cite news |title=WPP shares plunge as ad group falls behind in post-Sorrell era |last1=Holton |first1=Kate |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-wpp-outlook/wpp-shares-plunge-as-ad-group-falls-behind-in-post-sorrell-era-idUSKCN1MZ0ML |date=25 October 2018 |access-date=19 November 2019}}</ref> Critics said WPP needed to become "nimbler" and "leaner".<ref name="Economist18"/> At the time, many WPP agencies operated mostly independently and competed for accounts.<ref>{{cite news |title=WPP Considers Merger of Young & Rubicam and Digital Ad Firm VML |last1=Kostov |first1=Nick |last2=Vranica |first2=Suzanne |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/wpp-considers-merger-of-young-rubicam-and-digital-ad-firm-vml-1537729991 |date=24 September 2018 |access-date=16 September 2019}}</ref><ref name="Garrahan19">{{cite news |title=WPP bullish on second half of 2019 despite glum start to year |last1=Garrahan |first1=Matthew |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3e7f5f78-3bf8-11e9-b72b-2c7f526ca5d0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/3e7f5f78-3bf8-11e9-b72b-2c7f526ca5d0 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |date=1 March 2019 |access-date=16 September 2019}}</ref> In late 2018, Read said the company had grown "unwieldy with too much duplication".<ref name="Sweney18"/> He instituted a plan to reposition WPP as a "creative transformation company" and make its offer simpler.<ref name="Sweney18"/> Read emphasized the importance of technology<ref name="Mayes18">{{cite news |title=Biggest Ad Group WPP Adds Urgency to Digital Push After Slump |last1=Mayes |first1=Joe |work=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-07/wpp-ceo-set-to-highlight-digital-ambitions-in-strategy-update |date=7 December 2018 |access-date=16 September 2019}}</ref> and also merged several WPP agencies:<ref name="Sweney18"/> J. Walter Thompson merged with Wunderman to create Wunderman Thompson<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adweek.com/agencies/wpp-will-merge-j-walter-thompson-with-wunderman-to-form-wunderman-thompson/|title=WPP Will Merge J Walter Thompson with Wunderman to Form Wunderman Thompson|website=Adweek|date=26 November 2018|last=Coffee|first=Patrick|access-date=26 November 2018}}</ref> and Y&R merged with VML to create VMLY&R.<ref name="Sweney18"/> Within Read's first year as CEO, he trimmed WPP by selling more than 30 subsidiaries,<ref name="Nilsson19"/> including a majority stake in [[Kantar Group|Kantar]].<ref name="Nilsson19">{{cite news |title=WPP slims down with Kantar stake sale |last1=Nilsson |first1=Patricia |last2=Espinoza |first2=Javier |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/9ef7e7b6-a46d-11e9-a282-2df48f366f7d |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/9ef7e7b6-a46d-11e9-a282-2df48f366f7d |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |date=12 July 2019 |access-date=16 September 2019}}</ref> By selling a majority stake of Kantar to [[Bain Capital]], WPP is believed to have generated $3.1 billion to help pay down debt.<ref name="GrahamKantar19">{{cite news |title=WPP will sell stake in market research unit to Bain Capital in deal valuing Kantar at $4 billion |last1=Graham |first1=Megan |work=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/12/wpp-to-sell-kantar-stake-to-bain-capital.html |date=12 July 2019 |access-date=17 September 2019}}</ref> Read also sold the original Wire and Plastic Products company that Sorrell had purchased to create his business empire.<ref name="NilssonChime19">{{cite news |title=WPP sells stake in communications group Chime |last1=Nilsson |first1=Patricia |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/6a6cc12a-9bd9-11e9-9c06-a4640c9feebb |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/6a6cc12a-9bd9-11e9-9c06-a4640c9feebb |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |date=1 July 2019 |access-date=16 September 2019}}</ref>

The sale of 60% of the shares in Kantar was completed in December 2019. $1.9bn was used to reduce WPP's debt, and $1.2bn was returned to shareholders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mediatel.co.uk/news/2019/12/06/wpp-completes-kantar-deal-with-1-2bn-return-to-shareholders/|title=WPP completes Kantar deal with $1.2bn return to shareholders|date=6 December 2019|publisher=Mediatel|access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/223803/wpp-to-return-1bn-to-shareholders-from-32bn-sale-of-kantar-stake-223803.html|title=WPP to return £1bn to shareholders from £3.2bn sale of Kantar stake|publisher=Proactive Investor|date=12 July 2019|access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref>

In July 2022, WPP acquired Corebiz, a Latin American ecommerce agency, for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WPP Buys Corebiz to Strengthen Latin America Capabilities |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/wpp-buys-corebiz-to-strengthen-latin-america-capabilities-271658124746 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=MarketWatch |language=EN-US}}</ref>

In July 2024, WPP announced the appointment of former [[BT Group]] chief Philip Jansen as its chairman succeeding Roberto Quarta.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 July 2024 |title=WPP names former BT boss Philip Jansen as new chair |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a7c3c271-c82d-4de7-a719-60a31a026ef5 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-10-29 |newspaper=Financial Times }}</ref> Jansen is set to take over from Quarta  as chairman on 1 January 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bold |first=Ben |date=30 July 2024 |title=WPP names ex-BT chief Philip Jansen chair as Roberto Quarta steps down |url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1882707/wpp-names-ex-bt-chief-philip-jansen-chair-roberto-quarta-steps-down |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=www.prweek.com |language=en }}</ref>

==Operations==
WPP is a large holding company involved in communications, advertising, public relations, and other businesses.<ref name="Klara18"/> It is considered the world's biggest advertising agency group.<ref name="Mayes18"/> WPP focuses on communications, experience, commerce, and technology.<ref name="McClellan18">{{cite news |title=WPP Outlines Transformation Plans |last1=McClenllan |first1=Steve |work=MediaPost |url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/329130/wpp-outlines-transformation-plans.html |date=11 December 2018 |access-date=16 September 2019}}</ref><ref name="Coffee18">{{cite news |title=WPP to Cut 3,500 Jobs, Refocus on Creative and Data With No More Agency Mergers |last1=Coffee |first1=Patrick |work=Adweek |url=https://www.adweek.com/agencies/wpp-to-cut-3500-jobs-refocus-on-creative-and-data-with-no-more-agency-mergers/ |date=11 December 2018 |access-date=16 September 2019}}</ref> Headquartered in London, England, WPP has approximately 130,000 employees throughout its portfolio of businesses across more than 100 countries, as of 2018.<ref name="Sweney18"/>

WPP's notable advertising agency company holdings include [[Grey Global Group|Grey]], [[Ogilvy (agency)|Ogilvy]],<ref name="Klara18"/> [[Young & Rubicam Brands|VMLY&R]], and [[Wunderman Thompson]].<ref name="Beer18">{{cite news |title=WPP merges ad agency giants JWT and Wunderman |last1=Beer |first1=Jeff |work=PR Week |url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1422439/ogilvy-consolidates-agencies-one-p-l |date=26 November 2018 |access-date=7 January 2020}}</ref> The [[XM Gravity Indonesia]] subsidiary company was founded in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|last=McEwan|first=Feona|title=XM Asia to acquire a stake in PT Magnivate Group, a digital agency in Indonesia|url=http://www.wpp.com/wpp/investor/financialnews/2012/feb/09/xm-asia-to-acquire-a-stake-in/|publisher=WPP Plc|access-date=4 December 2013}}</ref>

WPP's digital company holdings include [[AKQA]].<ref name="Klara18"/> WPP's public relations and public affairs company holdings include [[Hill+Knowlton Strategies]], [[Burson Cohn & Wolfe|BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe)]], and Ogilvy.<ref name="Klara18"/> WPP's media investment management company holdings include GroupM, [[Mindshare (firm)|Mindshare]], [[MEC (media agency)|Wavemaker]] and [[Essence Global|Essence]].<ref name="Spanier17">{{cite news |title=WPP unveils Wavemaker as name of merged MEC-Maxus agency |last1=Spanier |first1=Gideon |work=Campaign |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/wpp-unveils-wavemaker-name-merged-mec-maxus-agency/1443769 |date=6 September 2017 |access-date=7 January 2020}}</ref> WPP's research insight and consulting companies include [[Kantar Group|Kantar]].<ref name="Nilsson19"/> [[Hogarth Worldwide]] is a WPP-owned production company.<ref name="Coffee18"/>

WPP's shopper marketing promotions company is PEP, LLC (formerly Promotion Execution Partners).<ref name=":0" /> WPP-owned brand consultancies include Superunion (a combination of [[Brand Union]], [[Lambie-Nairn]], and three other brand consulting businesses)<ref name="McCarthy18">{{cite news |title=Landor names CCO Knapp as chairman to keep brand strategy' core to client transformation |last1=McCarthy |first1=John |work=The Drum |url=https://www.thedrum.com/news/2018/10/24/landor-names-cco-knapp-chairman-keep-brand-strategy-core-client-transformation |date=24 October 2018 |access-date=17 September 2019}}</ref><ref name="Rittenhouse18">{{cite news |title=WPP's New Global Brand Agency Combines 5 of Its Consultancies and Design Shops |last1=Rittenhouse |first1=Lindsay |work=Adweek |url=https://www.adweek.com/agencies/wpps-new-global-brand-agency-combines-5-of-its-consultancies-and-design-shops/ |date=23 January 2018 |access-date=17 September 2019}}</ref> and [[Landor Associates|Landor]].<ref name="Klara18"/>

==Controversies==
===Cillit Bang viral marketing controversy===
In 2005 advertising agency Cohn & Wolfe (later merged into WPP) was contracted by [[Reckitt]] to operate a [[blog]] as the fictional character Barry Scott, advertising mascot for Reckitt's cleaning fluid [[Cillit Bang]], as a [[viral marketing]] platform. In October of that year [[blogger]] Tom Coates wrote an emotional post to his own blog about his long-estranged father. Among the expressions of condolences and sympathy in the post's comment section was one from a user identifying themselves as Barry Scott, with a link back to Cohn & Wolfe's in-character blog as Barry Scott. Offended by the apparent use of his blog comments on such a personal post as a [[spam in blogs|spam advertising]] venue, Coates traced the comment's originating [[IP address]] through addresses owned by [[VMLY&R|Young & Rubicam]] and back to Reckitt. Reckitt initially denied responsibility for the message, but wrote Coates an apology acknowledging the message's inappropriateness, and Cohn & Wolfe issued a statement of remorse for their misuse of the "experimental" blog which they then ceased operating.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Fictional+web+character+fails+to+amuse+net.-a0137734353|title=Fictional web character fails to amuse net. - Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prwatch.org/spin/2005/10/4058/fake-blogging-and-equally-fake-apology|title=Fake Blogging and an Equally Fake Apology|date=8 October 2005|website=PR Watch}}</ref>

The controversy and its fallout led to further discussions among the blogger community as well as the advertising industry on the ethical issues surrounding blogs being "operated" by fictional characters for the purposes of advertising without being clearly labeled as such, and the extent to which those blogs should be allowed to participate in the greater [[blogosphere]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ads.womma.org/2005/10/on_cillit_bang_.html|title=WOMMA's Word of Mouth vs. Advertising: On Cillit Bang and a new low for marketers... (plasticbag.org)|date=12 December 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051212153845/http://ads.womma.org/2005/10/on_cillit_bang_.html|archive-date=12 December 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://adland.tv/content/cillit-bang-stains-their-cult-reputation-comment-spam|title= Cillit Bang stains their cult reputation with comment spam|publisher=Adland|access-date=3 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/diary-barry-scott-makes-real-mess-blog-posting/527455|title=Diary: Barry Scott makes a real mess with blog posting|website=www.campaignlive.co.uk}}</ref>

===2012 shareholder revolt on executive remuneration===
With a number of shareholder revolts over [[executive pay]] having already happened at other public companies' AGMs earlier in the year, the media coverage of [[Martin Sorrell]]'s intended £12.93m compensation package drew increasing public attention in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/jun/17/sir-martin-sorrell-doesnt-pay-advertise|title=Sir Martin Sorrell finds out that it doesn't always pay to advertise|access-date=12 July 2012|work=The Guardian| date=17 June 2012}}</ref><ref name=guard13612>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/jun/13/wpp-shareholders-vote-against-sorrell-pay|title=WPP shareholders vote against £6.8m pay packet for Sir Martin Sorrell|access-date=12 July 2012|work=The Guardian| date=13 June 2012}}</ref> The result was a 59.52% shareholder vote to reject the resolution.<ref name=guard13612/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wpp.com/wpp/press/press/default.htm?guid={84e3b8c4-4f0e-451f-a203-809c08c22a35}|title=AGM Total Proxy Votes|work=wpp.com|access-date=21 March 2015}}</ref>

===Taxation===
It has been reported that WPP goes to great lengths to lower its own corporate tax bill. ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported that between 2003 and 2009 the company paid £27m in UK corporation tax, compared to what the newspaper "might expect" based on reports of the firm making 15% of its profit in the UK, of around £126m.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/feb/04/tax-gap-series|title=Seeing double: Avoidance scheme allegedly used by UK ads agency|work=The Guardian|date=4 February 2009|access-date=11 December 2012}}</ref>

===Television audience measurement===

In 2012, the Indian broadcasting [[NDTV]] filed a lawsuit against Television Audience Measurement (TAM), a joint venture of the former competitors [[Nielsen Company|Nielsen]] and Kantar Media Research which for years has provided the only TV audience measurement system in India. The lawsuit alleged that viewership data were manipulated in favor of broadcasters willing to provide bribes.<ref name="Gardner12">{{cite news |title=Nielsen Sued for Billions Over Allegedly Manipulated TV Ratings |last1=Gardner |first1=Eriq |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/nielsen-sued-billions-manipulated-ratings-355829 |date=30 July 2012 |access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref> WPP Plc was listed among the defendants as the holding group of Kantar and IMRB.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/ndtv-sues-tam-nielsen/1/187015.html|title=Taming TAM:What is holding India back from improving TV audience measurement?|author=Shamni Pande and Anusha Subramanian|date=2 September 2012|publisher=Business Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/ndtv-bells-the-cat-files-suit-against-tam/1/186887.html|title=NDTV bells the cat, files suit against TAM|author=Anusha Subramanian|date=3 August 2012|work=Business Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/ndtv-sues-nielsen-for-viewership-data-manipulation/1/186880.html|title=NDTV sues Nielsen for viewership data manipulation|agency=Press Trust of India|work=Business Today|date=2 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ndtv-wpp-warwords-continues-over-ratings-issue/484666/|title=NDTV-WPP war of words continues over ratings issue|date=28 August 2012|work=Business Standard}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-08-23/news/33342265_1_wpp-ndtv-viewership-data|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824122034/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-08-23/news/33342265_1_wpp-ndtv-viewership-data|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 August 2012|title=Advertising firm WPP may sue NDTV for defamation|date=23 August 2012|work=The Economic Times}}</ref>

The lawsuit was dismissed in its entirety on 4 March 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wpp.com/wpp/press/2013/mar/10/wpp-statement-on-dismissal-of-ndtv-law-suit/|title=WPP Statement on Dismissal of NDTV Law Suit|work=WPP|date=10 March 2013}}</ref>

=== Work for fossil fuel companies ===
WPP handles the accounts of many major oil companies.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Dang|first=Andrew R. C. Marshall, Valerie Volcovici, Sheila|date=2020|title=Climate change turns up the heat on ad industry|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/climate-change-advertising-insight-idUSKBN28R1NJ|access-date=2021-07-12}}</ref> Asked by Reuters to disclose their client list, WPP refused to do so.<ref name=":1" /> WPP has defended its work for [[fossil fuel]] companies.<ref name=":1" /> Lawsuits have alleged that four of WPP's advertisement campaigns for fossil fuel companies have been misleading or entailed [[greenwashing]].<ref name=":1" />

===Violating the law in Vietnam===
WPP has been fined on three occasions by the [[Ministry of Information and Communications (Vietnam)|Ministry of Information and Communications]] for advertising products on [[YouTube]] and [[Facebook]] in a manner which breached Vietnam's strict laws on cross-border advertising.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://vietnamagriculture.nongnghiep.vn/wpp-faces-triple-fines-in-2023-for-cross-border-advertising-violations-d370002.html|title=WPP faces triple fines in 2023 for cross-border advertising violations|newspaper=Vietnam Agriculture|access-date=2 May 2024}}</ref> The legislation is designed to combat offensive material which is intended to damage the [[Communist Party of Vietnam]] and the [[Government of Vietnam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/companies/media-firm-fined-for-illegal-youtube-ad-4682818.html|title=Media firm fined for illegal YouTube ad|date=29 November 2023|newspaper=VN Express|access-date=2 May 2024}}</ref> WPP had committed various advertising violations, including inserting advertisements into intervals in the Chinese drama series ''Flight to You'' which depicted the disputed [[U-shaped line]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/media-firm-fined-for-running-youtube-ad-involving-illegal-u-shaped-line-4736552.html|title=Media firm fined for running YouTube ad involving illegal U-shaped line|date=19 April 2024|newspaper=VN Express|access-date=2 May 2024}}</ref>

== See also ==
* {{Portal-inline|Companies}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{official website|https://www.wpp.com}}

{{WPP}}
{{FTSE 100 Index constituents}}

{{Authority control|state=expanded}}

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