Read reshuffles WPP as he combines two leading marketing agencies September 26, 2018 Advertising giant WPP continued consolidating its business today as it said it would merge two of its leading agencies. It confirmed it would combine VML and Y&R into a new agency called VMLY&R. It will be headed up by global chief exec Jon Cook, who will report to newly appointed WPP boss Mark Read. In his [...]
M&C Saatchi: WPP needs ‘radical surgery’ for post-Sorrell future September 21, 2018 M&C Saatchi's boss has warned his firm is ready to swoop on rival ad agency WPP’s territory as Sir Martin Sorrell’s successor is busy performing “radical surgery” on the business. David Kershaw hailed surging earnings at M&C Saatchi, seeing revenue almost double to £215.4m after new accounting rules changed the way revenue from customer contracts [...]
Sorrell lays out expansion plans for new advertising venture S4 Capital ahead of market comeback September 12, 2018 Ad guru Sir Martin Sorrell today laid out ambitious plans to expand new venture S4 Capital after it starts trading shares later this month, in a move which could step on the toes of his former employer WPP. The founder of the advertising goliath is using a shell company, Derriston Capital, to launch his new business [...]
WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell shrugs off mounting fears over China’s economy August 27, 2015 WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell yesterday admitted “everyone should be concerned” about the current state of the Chinese economy – but said he remained an “unabashed bull” over the long term. Speaking to City A.M., Sorrell said that although Asia Pacific is the company’s third largest market, WPP would not be changing its strategy [...]
Is WPP’s Sir Martin Sorrell right to “remain a raging bull” in relation to Chinese growth? August 26, 2015 Andy Rothman is investment strategist at Matthews Asia, says Yes China’s stock market has experienced a significant correction, and Beijing engineered a minor devaluation of the RMB, but neither of these events reflect a worse-than-expected slowdown in the real economy, and there are no signs that the A-share correction is having a significant impact on [...]
Advertising giant WPP beats expectations as Sir Martin Sorrell says he is still bullish on China August 26, 2015 WPP's share price fell more than one per cent this morning, despite beating expectations on both profit and like-for-likes. The figures The advertising giant reported headline profit before tax up 12.1 per cent to £596m – ahead of expectations that it would come in around £590m – and up 13.2 per cent on a constant [...]
Martin Sorrell’s WPP heads to Cuba as part of Latin American expansion plan July 2, 2015 Communications giant WPP is about to set up shop in communist-led Cuba – an unprecedented step among the world's major advertising agencies. Read more: Cuba woos US banks as sanctions ease The company, set up by Sir Martin Sorrell in 1971, has partnered with state-owned Palco Group to make the move, which marks the [...]
Sir Martin Sorrell on Heathrow expansion: Back it and get building – the government must move quickly on third runway July 1, 2015 After nearly three years spent carefully examining the evidence, the Airports Commission published its Final Report yesterday. Its definitive view, following what has been a long and robust process, is that London needs one new runway, and that the best option is to expand Heathrow. We believe that we need airport expansion, and that the [...]
WPP shareholders revolt against Sir Martin Sorrell’s £43m pay (but not as many as last year) June 9, 2015 More than a fifth of WPP shareholders have refused to back Sir Martin Sorrell's £43m pay package – but that is less than this time last year. At today's AGM 19.5 per cent of investors in the marketing and advertising giant voted against Sorrell's pay, while 2.7 per cent absented. While that means [...]
How long would it take you to earn WPP boss Martin Sorrell’s annual pay? June 8, 2015 The FTSE's best-paid boss will this week come face-to-face with shareholders over the size of his pay packet. Sir Martin Sorrell, the chief of advertising group WPP, is pocketing a hefty – and some may say excessive – £43m. It's a 44 per cent rise on how much he took home the previous year, and [...]