Sainsbury’s heir to the throne quits to join media powerhouse WPP October 1, 2019 Sainsbury’s has confirmed the CEO of Argos is quitting the retail space to join advertising giant WPP as its new chief financial officer, sparking speculation that boss Mike Coupe is in for the long haul. John Rogers, widely tipped as Coupe’s long-term successor, will leave the retailer on 31 October after almost 15 years at [...]
WPP appoints former Unilever ad chief Keith Weed to board September 19, 2019 WPP has appointed former Unilever marketing boss Keith Weed to its board as a non-executive director, the company announced today. The appointment will come as a major boost for the media behemoth, which has embarked on a three-year restructuring plan amid a challenging time for traditional ad shops. Read more: WPP beats expectations as turnaround [...]
WPP share price rise leads FTSE 100 as results beat expectations August 9, 2019 Advertising giant WPP has outperformed market expectations in the first half of the year, as its turnaround strategy helped boost business with key clients like Ebay and L’Oreal. Read more: WPP sells 60 per cent stake in Kantar to value it at $4bn The figures Profit before tax sank 44.1 per cent year on year [...]
WPP sells 60 per cent stake in Kantar to value it at $4bn July 12, 2019 Advertising giant WPP is set to sell 60 per cent of its stake in analytics division Kantar to a private equity house as it raises cash for a turnaround strategy. Read more: WPP loses big name clients, sending sales on a steep decline Bain Capital has agreed to snap up the stake in a deal [...]
Bain closes in on $4bn takeover of WPP data firm Kantar July 2, 2019 Bain Capital has entered into exclusive discussions to buy a majority stake in WPP’s data analytics firm Kantar in a deal worth roughly $4bn (£3.2bn). Read more: WPP to sell stake in sports marketing firm Chime Communications The deal would bring to an end a lengthy auction process which has seen bids from a series [...]
WPP to sell stake in sports marketing firm Chime Communications June 30, 2019 Advertising group WPP is set to sell its stake in sports marketing agency Chime Communications in its latest move to slim down the business. WPP will sell its 25 per cent stake in Chime to US investment firm Providence Equity Partners, which holds the remaining 75 per cent, for £50m. Read more: WPP confirms sale [...]
WPP confirms sale of post-production house The Farm Group to US rival June 21, 2019 WPP has confirmed the sale of its TV and film post-production firm The Farm Group to LA-based rival Picture Shop. Read more: Sorrell poaches two former media executives with links to WPP for new venture S4 Capital The ad giant today said it has signed a deal to sell its 75 per cent stake in [...]
Sorrell’s S4 Capital to buy marketing firm Biztech as it ramps up global expansion June 21, 2019 Sir Martin Sorrell’s S4 Capital is set to snap up marketing tech firm Biztech in its latest bid to expand globally and take on traditional ad agencies. S4 Capital said Media Monks, its content division, has conditionally agreed a merger with the Melbourne-headquartered firm for an undisclosed sum. Read more: Sir Martin Sorrell: Traditional agency [...]
Sir Martin Sorrell: Traditional agency model is ‘not fit for purpose’ June 18, 2019 Former WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell has launched yet another attack on his old firm, saying traditional ad agencies are “not fit for purpose” and must go private to survive. Speaking at the Cannes Lions festival today, Sorrell said the industry has to change if it is to adapt to increased competition and a new [...]
Sorrell poaches two media execs with links to WPP for his S4 Capital venture June 12, 2019 Sir Martin Sorrell has hired a former WPP executive for his new venture S4 Capital in the ad veteran’s latest broadside against his old firm. Scott Spirit, who was ousted by WPP just months after Sorrell’s abrupt departure last year, will join S4 Capital as chief growth officer and board member. Read more: S4 Capital [...]