WPP plc

WPP plc
Company type	Public
Traded as	LSE: WPP; NYSE: WPP; FTSE 100 Component
ISIN	JE00B8KF9B49
Industry	Communications; Advertising; Public relations;
Founded	1971 (Wire and Plastic Products plc); 1985 (Sorrell acquisition and entry into advertising);
Founders	Martin Sorrell; Preston Rabl; (as an advertising company)
Headquarters	London, England, UK
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Roberto Quarta (chairman); Mark Read (CEO);
Services	Integrated networks; media; data and insights; public relations and public affairs; brand consulting; production; health and wellness;
Revenue	£14.8 billion (2023)
Operating income	£531.0 million (2023)
Net income	£197.2 million (2023)
Number of employees	115,000 (2024)
Subsidiaries	AKQA; BCW; CMI Media Group; Essence Global; Grey; Hill+Knowlton Strategies; Mindshare; Ogilvy; Wavemaker; UWG; VML;
Website	www.wpp.com

WPP plc is a British multinational communications, advertising, public relations, technology, and commerce holding company headquartered in London, England. It is the world's largest advertising company, as of 2023.^[4] WPP plc owns many companies, which include advertising, public relations, media, and market research networks such as AKQA, BCW, CMI Media Group, Essence Global, Finsbury, Grey, Hill & Knowlton, Mindshare, Ogilvy, Wavemaker, and VML. It is one of the "Big Four" agency companies, alongside Publicis, The Interpublic Group of Companies, and Omnicom Group.^[5] WPP has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.^[6]

On 14 April 2018, Martin Sorrell retired 33 years after founding the company, following allegations of bullying and sexual indescretions,^[7]^[8] and Roberto Quarta was appointed chairman.^[9] Mark Read was appointed CEO in September 2018.^[10]

^ "Our companies". WPP plc. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Preliminary Results 2023" (PDF). WPP plc. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
^ "About us". WPP. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
^ "The world's biggest ad agency is going all in on AI with Nvidia's help". CNN. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
^ Elliott, Stuart (31 March 2002). "Advertising's Big Four: It's Their World Now". The New York Times.
^ "WPP". London Stock Exchange. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
^ Goodley, Simon; Davies, Rob (11 June 2018). "Martin Sorrell's WPP exit came amid bullying and sex worker allegations". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
^ "Martin Sorrell's downfall: why the ad king left WPP". Financial Times. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
^ "WPP CEO Sorrell Quits After Three Decades at Top of Ad World". Bloomberg.com. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
^ Holton, Kate (3 September 2018). "Ad giant WPP names Read as CEO for post-Sorrell era". Reuters.

[Our_companies-1] "Our companies". WPP plc. Retrieved 16 September 2019.

[PreliminaryResults-2] "Preliminary Results 2023" (PDF). WPP plc. Retrieved 22 February 2024.

[3] "About us". WPP. Retrieved 12 February 2024.

[4] "The world's biggest ad agency is going all in on AI with Nvidia's help". CNN. Retrieved 21 March 2024.

[Advertising's_Big_Four:_It's_Their_World_Now-5] Elliott, Stuart (31 March 2002). "Advertising's Big Four: It's Their World Now". The New York Times.

[LSE-6] "WPP". London Stock Exchange. Retrieved 17 September 2019.

[7] Goodley, Simon; Davies, Rob (11 June 2018). "Martin Sorrell's WPP exit came amid bullying and sex worker allegations". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 October 2024.

[8] "Martin Sorrell's downfall: why the ad king left WPP". Financial Times. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2024.

[bloomberg-april-2018-9] "WPP CEO Sorrell Quits After Three Decades at Top of Ad World". Bloomberg.com. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.

[10] Holton, Kate (3 September 2018). "Ad giant WPP names Read as CEO for post-Sorrell era". Reuters.

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