Kantar: Private equity groups circle media research firm Media 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: New deals with Amazon and Unilever drive growth Business 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 [...]
WPP: Ad giant names former BT boss Jansen as new chair to navigate AI challenges Business 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 [...]
WPP expects to return to growth in second-half as AI tools ‘deployed at scale’ April 25, 2024 For the full year, the company said it expected to report like-for-like revenue growth less pass-through costs of zero to one per cent.
Advertising giant WPP looks to AI to improve performance as growth grinds to a halt February 22, 2024 WPP made the statement alongside its full-year 2023 results, which showed like-for-like revenue growth of 3.2 per cent. Revenue less pass-through costs grew 0.9 per cent on a like-for-like basis.
WPP’s AI ambitions to take centre stage in full-year results February 19, 2024 Media and advertising giant WPP is set to release its preliminary full-year results on 22 February, which are likely to include commentary on its plans to expand into artificial intelligence. The group said it expected to post full year net-revenue growth of 0.9 per cent, with operating margins in the region of 15 per cent. [...]
UK to replace Japan as third largest ad market globally December 6, 2023 The UK has shifted up the rankings of the largest global ad markets to third place, replacing Japan, and sitting just behind the US and China.
WPP downgrades outlook as buyout rumours swirl October 26, 2023 WPP chief executive Mark Read believes the firm's "top-line performance in Q3 was below our expectations" and was "impacted by the cautious spending trends".
WPP profits tumble 51 per cent as advertising giant shifts focus to AI plans August 4, 2023 The world’s biggest advertising firm WPP reported a “resilient” performance in the first half of the year despite plunging profits as they start to build out AI plans. WPP reported profit before tax for the first half of 2023 dropped 51 per cent to £204m, compared to £419m compared to the first half of 2022. [...]
WPP chief says use of AI in advertising is an ‘opportunity’ not a threat April 27, 2023 Contrary to some commentators’ fears, chief of WPP Mark Read has called artificial intelligence a “massive opportunity to optimise creative” work rather than representing a threat. Speaking to the Financial Times, Read revealed the advertising giant has already been using artificial intelligence and automation to “amplify” its creative work for some years. He added that [...]