Latest news with #GroupM
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
WPP Media launches as fully integrated, AI-powered media company
WPP today strengthened its position as the leading marketing services business for the intelligent era with the launch of its AI-driven media company, WPP Media. Reflecting growing demand from marketers for fully integrated capabilities, WPP Media replaces GroupM as the name for WPP's global media company. WPP Media manages more than $60 billion in annual media investment and works with more than 75% of the world's leading advertisers in over 80 markets. Mindshare, Wavemaker, and EssenceMediacom will continue to provide clients with dedicated teams as brands within WPP Media, leveraging common capabilities, technology and support functions. WPP Media is seamlessly connected with WPP's wider global agency networks and capabilities through WPP Open – WPP's AI-enabled marketing system – creating the industry's most advanced platform for scaled and integrated creative, production, data, commerce and personalized media delivery services. WPP Open is backed by £300m in investment each year and partnerships with the leading AI companies. WPP Media's fully integrated offering enables clients to unify media, data and production and holistically manage their owned, earned, shared and paid activities to deliver personalization at scale. The company's services are further enhanced with best-in-class connected commerce and state-of-the-art measurement and analytics capabilities. WPP Media is underpinned by a commitment to accelerate investments in learning and development initiatives that will provide career pathways to the jobs of the future, ensuring employees are empowered to lead marketing and media transformation in the AI era. For more information about WPP Media's integrated capabilities and to explore WPP Media's new brand identity, visit Brian Lesser, CEO of WPP Media, said: 'Consumers already expect advertising to be relevant and engaging and buying experiences to be seamless; those expectations are only going to accelerate in the age of AI. WPP Media is built for a world in which media is everywhere and in everything. By investing in our AI-powered product, integrating our offer with data and technology, and equipping our people with future-facing skills, we're helping our clients to stay ahead of rapidly changing consumer behavior and unlock the limitless opportunities for growth that AI will create.' Today's announcement comes as WPP launches a new cross-channel B2B campaign targeting business leaders and senior marketing decision-makers. The campaign showcases WPP's AI credentials, its integrated proposition, and the advanced capabilities of WPP Open. For more, visit Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: 'We believe that WPP is the strongest marketing partner for the world's leading brands in the AI era, where technology and talent converge. The move to WPP Media continues our strategy to simplify and integrate our offer for clients. While GroupM was built for a time when media scale mattered most, WPP Media reflects the power of AI, data and technology and simpler, more integrated solutions. 'Our vision for the future is clear – marketing that is informed by data, led by seamlessly connected teams of brilliant people, and full of new opportunities for our clients.' Contact details: Felicity Stokes Head of Marketing and Communications, WPP Media MENA +971521469638 About WPP WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit About WPP Media WPP Media is WPP's global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit
Campaign ME
3 days ago
- Business
- Campaign ME
GroupM officially rebrands to WPP Media
GroupM has officially rebranded as WPP Media and is now describing itself as an 'AI-driven media company'. Campaign UK first reported on the move to rename the media investment arm in early May. At the time, a spokesperson said that WPP doesn't 'comment on speculation'. Of the rebrand, Mark Read, chief executive at WPP, said that while 'GroupM was built for a time when media scale mattered most, WPP Media reflects the power of AI, data and technology and simpler, more integrated solutions'. Mindshare, Wavemaker and EssenceMediacom are set to continue to provide clients with dedicated teams as brands within WPP Media. Despite media agencies continuing to operate as distinct brands within WPP Media, GroupM told staff earlier this month that these brands will move to a single P&L and act as 'one voice in the market', with agency-specific titles set to 'sunset'. Last week, the media operating arm told staff which roles would be at risk of redundancy in the UK. The latest move comes after Brian Lesser, chief executive of WPP Media, told investors in March 2025 that WPP '[knows] that we have to be simpler' and laid out a five-point plan which included a shift to focus on an AI-based data strategy. Lesser added: 'By investing in our AI-powered product (WPP Open), integrating our offer with data and technology, and equipping our people with future-facing skills, we're helping our clients to stay ahead of rapidly changing consumer behaviour and unlock the limitless opportunities for growth that AI will create.' Lesser has made a series of changes to streamline the business since joining in September 2024, when he replaced Christian Juhl. For instance, he axed global agency brand chief executive roles for media agencies EssenceMediacom, Mindshare and Wavemaker in a bid to further centralise operations. GroupM EMEA chief executive Josh Krichefski left the business in March, after 14 years. Its leaders in key markets, including the UK, now report directly to Lesser.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
WPP replaces GroupM with AI-powered WPP Media
WPP today launched WPP Media , replacing GroupM as its global media company. This move marks a strategic shift to meet rising demand from marketers for fully integrated, AI-driven solutions that connect media, data, and production at scale. Managing over $60 billion in annual media investment , WPP Media works with more than 75% of the world's top advertisers across 80+ markets. WPP Media is the largest media agency network in India. Existing agency brands—Mindshare, Wavemaker, and EssenceMediacom—will remain under the new WPP Media umbrella, continuing to serve clients with dedicated teams and shared access to technology, capabilities, and support services. WPP Media is integrated with WPP's broader global agency network through WPP Open, the company's AI-enabled marketing system. Backed by £300 million in annual investment and leading AI partnerships, WPP Open will power advanced capabilities across creative, data, commerce, production, and media delivery—making it the most comprehensive platform in the industry. WPP Media will enable advertisers to unify their media, data, and production strategies and manage owned, earned, shared, and paid media holistically. The offering includes advanced measurement, analytics, and connected commerce tools to deliver personalisation at scale. As part of its transformation, WPP Media is also investing in future-focused learning and development initiatives to build career pathways and equip employees to lead in the AI era. Brian Lesser, CEO of WPP Media, said: 'Consumers already expect advertising to be relevant and engaging and buying experiences to be seamless; those expectations are only going to accelerate in the age of AI. WPP Media is built for a world in which media is everywhere and in everything. By investing in our AI-powered product, integrating our offer with data and technology, and equipping our people with future-facing skills, we're helping our clients to stay ahead of rapidly changing consumer behavior and unlock the limitless opportunities for growth that AI will create.' Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: 'We believe that WPP is the strongest marketing partner for the world's leading brands in the AI era, where technology and talent converge. The move to WPP Media continues our strategy to simplify and integrate our offer for clients. While GroupM was built for a time when media scale mattered most, WPP Media reflects the power of AI, data and technology and simpler, more integrated solutions. Our vision for the future is clear – marketing that is informed by data, led by seamlessly connected teams of brilliant people, and full of new opportunities for our clients.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Indian watchdog found global ad agencies colluded on fees, document shows
By Aditya Kalra NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's antitrust body found that global ad agencies breached laws by coordinating on commissions they charge advertisers, prompting the watchdog's raids on advertising and media companies in March, according to a document which sheds new light on the investigation into the media sector. The Competition Commission of India conducted surprise raids in March at the local offices of ad agencies WPP-owned GroupM, Interpublic, Publicis and Dentsu and at the offices of an Indian broadcasters' body and an association of advertising companies. A CCI document dated February 7 and seen by Reuters on Friday sheds new light on allegations that three separate cartels operated through three different industry groups: the Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA), Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF). Before the raids, the CCI document said, it reviewed evidence that showed the alleged misconduct was prevalent since at least 2023, and advertising agencies exchanged commercially sensitive information on WhatsApp groups and agreed to adhere to pre-decided commission structures. "AAAI and its members are in contravention" of competition laws, the CCI noted in its initial review, while ordering the investigation which triggered the March raids, the document said. AAAI also often organised virtual meetings among members to align on prices and responses to be shared with clients, and discussed "retaliatory action" against members who don't follow such guidelines, the document said. The group "also fixed the formula for fee in case of fee-based service to advertisers," CCI said. The groups - AAAI which represents GroupM, Dentsu and Publicis, ISA which counts dozens of Indian and foreign companies as members, and the IBDF group of broadcasters - did not respond to Reuters queries. The CCI also did not respond to a request for comment. The CCI does not publicly disclose any details of price fixing investigations. Reuters reported in March that the allegations relate to collusion between media buying agencies and broadcasters, and the case was triggered after Dentsu made disclosures under a whistleblower-type federal programme. The raids cast a shadow on India's fast-growing media and broadcast sector which counts Reliance-Disney and Sony as top players, and could alter how ads are priced and sold in the country. Detailing the allegations, the CCI document said the advertisers "established a buyer's cartel", while the broadcasters who provide channels separately engaged in "collective action to refrain from giving discounts" to clients. Another cartel "exists in the media segment of advertising agencies and attempts are underway" to establish a cartel in its creative business segment, the CCI added. The three industry groups also "coordinate their activities and indulge in collective negotiations ... on issues which should ideally be negotiated independently," it added. "The respective industry association appear to evolve guidelines, advisories or negotiation parameters ... to secure the commercial interests of their members," it added. In recent weeks, AAAI privately asked its members to avoid discussions over pricing during meetings, where the group's legal adviser must be present, Reuters has reported. The investigation comes amid major shifts in India's advertising landscape following last year's $8.5 billion merger between Walt Disney and Reliance's Indian media assets, which is estimated to have a 40% share of the ad market in TV and streaming segments. India is the world's eighth-biggest ad market, where revenues stood at $18.5 billion last year, GroupM estimates. The CCI investigation is likely to continue for several months before final findings are issued.
Arabian Post
23-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Antitrust Sweep Uncovers Fee-Fixing Among Global Ad Firms
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai India's Competition Commission has uncovered evidence suggesting that major global advertising agencies, including WPP-owned GroupM, Interpublic's IPG Mediabrands, Publicis, and Dentsu, colluded to fix commission fees charged to advertisers. This revelation follows surprise raids conducted in March at the Indian offices of these agencies, as well as at the Indian Society of Advertisers , the Advertising Agencies Association of India , and the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation . A confidential CCI document dated February 7 indicates that these agencies engaged in unlawful coordination through WhatsApp groups and virtual meetings, agreeing on fee structures and pressuring non-compliant members. The investigation revealed three cartels across different industry groups, with agencies and broadcasters also accused of collectively avoiding discounts to clients. The case was initiated under a whistleblower program, with Dentsu reportedly providing internal findings of price-fixing along with a controversial 2023 IBDF-AAAI document that discouraged undercutting and required agencies to provide a 'no objection' certificate if clients switched firms. ADVERTISEMENT The CCI's raids, which began early on March 18, targeted around 10 locations across Mumbai, New Delhi, and Gurugram. Officials scrutinized emails and cloned evidence from mobile phones at GroupM's Indian office, among others. These actions come amid significant changes in India's advertising market, following an $8.5 billion merger between Walt Disney and Reliance's media assets, capturing a substantial market share. The investigation, which dates back to last year, focuses on alleged collusion on ad pricing and discounts. If found guilty, the agencies could face hefty penalties. The CCI does not disclose details of ongoing investigations, which could take months to resolve. Following the raids, the AAAI issued an advisory on March 26, urging members to avoid discussions over pricing or other commercially sensitive information during meetings, and to exit existing WhatsApp groups to prevent further scrutiny. The advisory emphasized compliance with India's competition laws to avoid further scrutiny. The CCI's investigation has significant implications for India's $18.5 billion advertising market—ranked eighth globally—particularly amid ongoing consolidation such as Disney and Reliance's $8.5 billion media merger. The outcome of the probe could redefine how advertising agencies, broadcasters, and advertisers interact in India's rapidly evolving media landscape, at a time the industry is navigating challenges from digital disruptions and shifting consumer behavior.
