WPP could lose crown as largest ad agency amid Omnicom and Interpublic merger December 9, 2024 FTSE 100 giant WPP is under threat of losing its spot as the largest advertising company in the world for the first time in decades as American rivals Omnicom and Interpublic consider a merger. Over the weekend, news emerged that Omnicom and Interpublic are discussing terms of a $30bn (£23.6bn) merger. This could catapult the [...]
Kantar: Private equity groups circle media research firm November 17, 2024 Private equity bidders are reportedly interested in buying TV ratings data business Kantar Media in a development which could pave the way for a multibillion-pound sale of the wider Kantar Group.
WPP breached law in Kenya over personal data of former CEO Scangroup October 30, 2024 Advertising giant WPP has been found liable for breaching Kenya's data protection law when handling the personal data of the former CEO of its subsidiary and man suing it for over $30m
WPP: New deals with Amazon and Unilever drive growth October 23, 2024 Like-for-like revenue at advertising giant WPP ticked up 4.1 per cent in the quarter to 30 September, despite a decline in business outside of the US and Europe. However, net new billings declined year-to-date. The figure came in at $3.2bn (£2.5bn) compared to $3.4bn (£2.6bn) in 2023. However, other regions struggled. Revenue in the UK [...]
S4 Capital: Revenue down and debt up at Sir Martin Sorrell’s ad giant September 19, 2024 Sir Martin Sorrell’s S4 Capital’s post-pandemic struggles have carried through into its latest results, which revealed a sharp decline in revenue and ballooning debt. The London-listed media holding group, which ad guru Sorrell founded after a sudden exit from WPP in 2018, saw its net revenue reduce by 15.6 per cent from £445.5m to £375.1m [...]
The UK tech and media companies making the most of AI August 16, 2024 As the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution sweeps through the tech and digital media sectors, some companies are embracing its potential more effectively than others, according to a recent report by Shore Capital. The investment firm has zeroed in on companies where AI is more than just a buzzword and can “accelerate an already positive investment [...]
WPP sells majority stake in FGS Global to KKR as group growth flounders August 7, 2024 WPP also reported its interim results in a separate announcement. Despite flat revenue at £7.2bn, there was a 2.6 per cent drop on a like-for-like basis.
WPP: Ad giant names former BT boss Jansen as new chair to navigate AI challenges July 30, 2024 Advertising giant WPP has appointed the former BT boss Philip Jansen as its new chair after a long search for a steady hand to help it navigate a difficult time. The rise of AI has caused upheaval within the industry, as it must adjust to a new set of tools which can replace many of [...]
AI deepfake scams hit FTSE 100 bosses July 10, 2024 Back in May, the chief executive of WPP revealed he was targeted by a deepfake scam which involved his voice being cloned on a company Microsoft Teams call.
PR takeovers are all the rage as private equity piles in July 3, 2024 Jess Jones takes a look at why M&A activity in the PR sector is on the rise, and asks whether it will continue