Staff at WPP in the UK have given an inside view of what’s happening at what was once the world’s biggest advertising group.
An article in The Guardian, by media business correspondent Mark Sweney, asked: What’s gone wrong at WPP?
“WPP ruled the world at one point, it was like the British empire,” the newspaper quoted one industry executive.
“It was symbolic of UK success and the country’s status as the global home for advertising.”
The UK-based advertising group has cut thousands of staff, slashed bonuses as it deals with reduced client spend and slower new business.
The new CEO, Cindy Rose, who started last month after the exit of Mark Read, whose reign saw the value of the company drop to £4 billion from £25, is conducting a strategy review.
One source told the Guardian Rose is “clear-eyed” about the challenges.
WPP’s operating margin is down to 8.2% in the first six months of 2025 from 11.5% last year. At industry leader Publicis Groupe, margins are more than 18%.
However, concerns are growing among staff over job cuts with AI taking over processes.
An industry source said advertising clients are fickle. “The worry is that the decline is baked in. But change comes when you are on the precipice of disaster. I would never write WPP off.”
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