Difference between revisions of "WPP"

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WPP’s 2001 revenues were $5791m: Advertising accounted for 46%; specialist communications, 27%; info and consultancy, 15%; and public relations and affairs, 12.3%. Including associates, the Group had over 65,000 full-time people in over 1,400 offices in 103 countries at the end of 2001. In 2001 WPP worked for over 300 of the Fortune Global 500 companies and over half of the Nasdaq 100. WPP serviced 330 national or multi-national clients in three or more disciplines and over 150 clients in four disciplines.  Globally, WPP worked with over 100 clients in six or more countries (WPP, 2001, p. 2).
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{{Template:Lobbying badge}}
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'''WPP''' is one of the big three marketing and communications conglomerates along with [[Interpublic]] and [[Omnicom]]. In 2011 [[WPP]] employ over 146,000 people (including associates) operating out of almost 2,400 offices in 107 countries. <ref> WPP, [http://www.wpp.com/annualreports/2010/overview/index.html Annual Report 2010] accessed 12th December 2011 </ref> The scale and revenue of the company have grown dramatically since 2001.
  
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:WPP&#39;s 2001 revenues were $5791m: Advertising accounted for 46%; specialist communications, 27%; info and consultancy, 15%; and public relations and affairs, 12.3%. Including associates, the Group had over 65,000 full-time people in over 1,400 offices in 103 countries at the end of 2001. In 2001 WPP worked for over 300 of the Fortune Global 500 companies and over half of the Nasdaq 100. WPP serviced 330 national or multi-national clients in three or more disciplines and over 150 clients in four disciplines.  Globally, WPP worked with over 100 clients in six or more countries (WPP, 2001, p. 2).
  
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The global WPP group encompasses the [[J. Walter Thompson]], [[Ogilvy & Mather]], [[Tempus]], [[Grey Global]] and [[Young & Rubicam]] advertising agencies. The conglomerate also includes public relations, media planning and buying, marketing and research services through [[Hill & Knowlton]], [[Burson-Marsteller]], [[MindShare]] and The [[Kantar Group]].
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By 2010 the firm's estimated revenues were £11.6 billion. <ref> WPP, [http://www.wpp.com/annualreports/2010/how-were-doing/letter-to-share-owners/index.html Letter to Share Owners] accessed 12th December 2011 </ref> 
  
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==evolution of the group==
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The global WPP group encompasses the [[J. Walter Thompson]], [[Ogilvy & Mather]], [[Tempus]], [[Grey Global]] and [[Young & Rubicam]] advertising agencies. The conglomerate also includes public relations, lobbying, media planning and buying, marketing and research services through [[Hill & Knowlton]], [[Burson-Marsteller]], [[MindShare]] and The [[Kantar Group]].
  
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WPP czar Martin Sorrell was the 'third brother' at [[Saatchi & Saatchi]] (now part of [[Publicis]]) from 1975 to 1986 before acquiring UK shopping cart manufacturer Wire & Plastic Products (WPP). He used WPP as a vehicle for acquiring 'below-the-line' advertising-related businesses.
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==Evolution of the group==
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WPP czar [[Martin Sorrell]] was the 'third brother' acting as finance director at [[Saatchi & Saatchi]] (now part of [[Publicis]]) from 1975 to 1986 before acquiring UK shopping cart manufacturer Wire & Plastic Products (WPP). He used WPP as a vehicle for acquiring 'below-the-line' advertising-related businesses.  
  
 
In 1987 he made a successful US$566m hostile bid for the venerable J. Walter Thompson. Two years later he expanded the group through the US$825m purchase of the equally prestigious Ogilvy & Mather, despite opposition from ad icon David Ogilvy (1911-1999).
 
In 1987 he made a successful US$566m hostile bid for the venerable J. Walter Thompson. Two years later he expanded the group through the US$825m purchase of the equally prestigious Ogilvy & Mather, despite opposition from ad icon David Ogilvy (1911-1999).
  
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In 2003 WPP successfully bid for the ailing Cordiant group, acquired for a mere US$17 million (plus assumption of debts). It acquired Grey Global in 2004 with cash and shares worth just over US$1.3bn (£720m). As of 2000 Grey had sales of US$1,247 million and earnings of US$19 million.Source [http://www.ketupa.net/wpp.htm]
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In 2003 WPP successfully bid for the ailing Cordiant group, acquired for a mere US$17 million (plus assumption of debts). It acquired Grey Global in 2004 with cash and shares worth just over US$1.3bn (£720m). As of 2000 Grey had sales of US$1,247 million and earnings of US$19 million.Source [http://www.ketupa.net/wpp.htm]
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==Management==
 
  
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==Directors<ref> WPP, [http://www.wpp.com/annualreports/2010/how-were-run/who-runs-wpp/index.html Members of the Board of Directors] April 2010, accessed 12th December 2011 </ref>== 
 
*[[Philip Lader]] Non-executive chairman
 
*[[Philip Lader]] Non-executive chairman
 
*Sir [[Martin Sorrell]] Chief executive. Martin Sorrell joined WPP in 1986 as a director, becoming Group chief executive in the same year. e-mail: msorrell@wpp.com
 
*Sir [[Martin Sorrell]] Chief executive. Martin Sorrell joined WPP in 1986 as a director, becoming Group chief executive in the same year. e-mail: msorrell@wpp.com
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*[[Paul Richardson]] Finance director
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*[[Paul Richardson]] Executive director and Director of Finance
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*[[Mark Read]] Strategy Director
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*[[Mark Read]] Executive Director and Strategy Director
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*[[Colin Day]], Non-Executive Director and Member of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee
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*[[Esther Dyson]], Non-Executive Director and Member of the Compensation Committee and Nomination Committee
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*[[Orit Gadiesh]], Non-executive Director and Member of the Nomination Committee
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*[[Ruigang Li]], Non-Executive Director
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*[[Stanley (Bud) Morten]], Senior independent director (until April 2010)
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*[[Koichiro Naganuma]], Non-Executive Director
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*[[Lubna Olayan]], Non-Executive Director and Member of the Nomination Committee
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*[[John Quelch]], Non-Executive Director
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*[[Jeffrey Rosen]], Non-Executive Director, Chairman of the Compensation Committee and Member of the Audit Committee Senior independent director (from April 2010)
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*[[Timothy Shriver]], Non-Executive Director and Member of the Compensation Committee
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*[[Paul Spencer]], Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee
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*[[Sol Trujillo]], Non-Executive Director and Member of the Audit Committee
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'''Former Directors'''
 
*[[Howard Paster]] Director
 
*[[Howard Paster]] Director
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*[[Esther Dyson]] Non-executive director
 
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*[[Orit Gadiesh]] Non-executive director
 
 
*[[David H Komansky]] Non-executive director
 
*[[David H Komansky]] Non-executive director
 
*[[Christopher Mackenzie]] Non-executive director
 
*[[Christopher Mackenzie]] Non-executive director
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Christopher Mackenzie was appointed a director in 2000. He is chief executive of Equilibrium, a London-based financial advisory partnership, and Executive Chairman of Brunswick Capital, Russia's leading investment bank and non-bank financial services group. He is also a board member of ALJ, Saudi Arabia's largest non-government industrial group. Previously he was president and CEO of Trizec Properties and a company officer of GE, heading GE Capital's international business development.
 
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*[[Stanley (Bud) Morten]] Non-executive director
 
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Bud Morten was appointed a director in 1991. He is a consultant and private investor. He is currently the Independent Consultant to Citigroup/Smith Barney with responsibility for its independent research requirements. Previously he was the chief operating officer of Punk, Ziegel & Co, a New York investment banking firm with a focus on the healthcare and technology industries. Before that he was the managing director of the equity division of Wertheim Schroder & Co, Inc. in New York. He is a non-executive director of Register.com Inc., a NASDAQ-listed US public company.
 
  
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*[[Koichiro Naganuma]] Non-executive director
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==Vocal on tax issues==
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Koichiro Naganuma was appointed a director in 2004. He is president and group chief operating officer of Asatsu-DK. Mr. Nagauma joined Asatsu-DK in 1981 and his roles have included executive director of the International Division, managing director of Asatsu Worldwide Company and President of the Overseas Network. He replaces [[Masao Inagaki]] on the Board who retired upon the appointment of Mr. Naganuma. [[Asatsu-DK]] is Japan's third largest advertising and communications company, in which WPP took a 20% interest in 1998.
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Boss Martin Sorrell long made a big noise over Britain's 'uncompetitive' tax regime under the Labour government, and in 2008 he moved WPP's tax base to Ireland. So his much trumpeted promise to return to the UK after George Osborne's 2011 budget hailed a massive 5 per cent cut to corporation tax and changes to the way overseas profits are taxed was a big coup for the Coalition. Critics called it a "carefully stage-managed" announcement as part of Osborne's drive to show Britain was "open for business"
  
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*[[Lubna Olayan]] Non-executive Director
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But it was hardly surprising, given that the advertising giant has a seat on the HM Treasury's [[Business Forum on Tax and Competitiveness]], a talking shop where business and Treasury ministers come together ‘to discuss ways in which Government can improve the competitiveness of UK’s tax system’.
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As CEO of [[Olayan Financing Company]], Lubna Olayan is responsible for the Olayan Group's business and investments in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. In December 2004, she was elected to the Board of [[Saudi Hollandi Bank]], the first woman to be elected to the board of a Saudi listed company. From 1996 through 2004, she served on the board of [[Chelsfield]], the UK property developer. She is a member of [[INSEAD]]'s International Council and a trustee of the [[Arab Thought Foundation]]. She is also a member on the [[Arab Business Council]] and the Women's Leadership Initiative of the World Economic Forum]].
 
  
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*[[John Quelch]] Non-executive director
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Sorrell admitted to the ''Guardian'' that there had been discussions between WPP and the government "for many months, and particularly since the [2010] Davos summit".
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John Quelch was appointed a director in 1988. He is Senior Associate Dean and Lincoln Filene Professor of Business Administration at [[Harvard Business School]]. Between 1998 and 2001 he was Dean of the [[London Business School]]. He also serves as chairman of the [[Massachusetts Port Authority]]. Professor Quelch is an expert on global business practice in emerging as well as developed markets, international marketing and the role of the multinational corporation and the nation state. He is a non-executive director of [[Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc.]] and served previously on the boards of [[Blue Circle Industries plc]], [[easyJet plc]], [[Pentland Group plc]] and [[Reebok International Limited]].
 
  
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*[[Jeffrey Rosen]] Non-executive director
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:The coalition from the very beginning had said it was crucially important that Britain had a competitive tax landscape," he said. "They've gone further than I expected on corporate [tax] and also on personal taxation." The higher income tax rate of 50p is expected to be cut. <ref> Graeme Wearden, Jill Treanor and Henry McDonald in Dublin, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/mar/24/wpp-poised-return-uk WPP poised to return to UK – but how many are following suit?], guardian.co.uk, Thursday 24 March 2011 20.50 GMT </ref>
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*[[Paul Spencer]]Non-executive director
 
  
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==shape==
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===Biggest FTSE 100 user of tax havens===
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A new tax havens database compiled by the anti-poverty charity ActionAid in October 2011 revealed just how embedded the use of tax havens is in the structures of nearly all Britain’s biggest companies.
  
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An indication of WPP's shape and extent is provided here.
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It found that WPP was the biggest FTSE 100 tax haven user overall with 611 tax haven companies. <ref> ActionAid [Addicted to tax havens], 11 October 2011, accessed same day </ref>
  
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:Y&R
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==Subsidiaries as of April 2010==
 +
*'''Advertising''' [[ADK]] (Associate)  | [[Bates 141]] | [[Brand Buzz]] (A [[Young & Rubicam]] Brands company) | [[CHI & Partners]] (Associate)  | [[Dentsu Y&R]] (A Young & Rubicam Brands company and Joint venture)  | [[Grey]] | [[ HS Ad]] | [[JWT]] | [[Ogilvy and Mather]] | [[Santo]] | [[Scangroup]] (Associate)| [[Soho Square]] | Tapsa]] | [[TAXI]] (A Young & Rubicam Brands company) | [[Team Detroit]] | The  [[Jupiter Drawing Room and Partners]]  | [[United Network]] | [[Y and R]] (A Young & Rubicam Brands company)
 +
*'''Media Investment Management''' [[GroupM]] | [[Maxus]] | [[MediaCom]] | [[MEC]] | [[Mindshare]] | [[Outrider]] | [[Catalyst]]
 +
*'''Other media agencies''' [[KR Media]] (Associate) | [[tenthavenue]] | [[Kinetic Worldwide]] | [[Quisma]]  | [[Spafax]] |
 +
*'''Consumer Insight ''' [[Kantar]]  | [[Added Value]] | [[Center Partners]] | [[IMRB International]] | [[Kantar Health]] | [[Kantar Japan]] | [[Kantar Media]] | [[Kantar Operations]] | [[Kantar Retail]] | [[Kantar Worldpanel]] | [[Lightspeed Research]] | [[Millward Brown]] | The [[Futures Company]] | [[TNS]] 
 +
*'''Other marketing consultancies''' [[Everystone]]  (A Brand Union Company) |  [[ohal]]
 +
*'''Public Relations & Public Affairs''' [[Blanc & Otus]] (A [[Hill and Knowlton]] Company) |  [[Buchanan Communications]] | [[Burson-Marsteller]] (A Young & Rubicam Brands company) | [[Chime Communications PLC]] (Associate) | [[Clarion Communications]] | [[Cohn and Wolfe]] (A Young & Rubicam Brands company) | [[Dewey Square Group]] | [[Finsbury]] | [[Hill and Knowlton]] | [[Ogilvy Government Relations]] | [[Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide]] | The [[PBN Company]] (Associate) | [[Penn Schoen Berland]] (A Young & Rubicam Brands company) | [[Prime Policy Group]] | [[Public Strategies]] (A [[Hill and Knowlton]] Company)  | [[Quinn Gillespie]] | [[Robinson Lerer & Montgomery]] (A Young & Rubicam Brands company)| [[Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates]] (A [[Hill and Knowlton]] Company)
 +
*'''Branding & Identity''' [[Addison Corporate Marketing]] (A member of B to D Group) | [[BDGMcColl]] | [[BDGworkfutures]] | [[Coley Porter Bell]] | [[Dovetail]] | [[FITCH]] (A member of B to D Group) | [[Lambie-Nairn]] (A member of B to D Group) | [[Landor Associates]] (A member of B to D Group and A Young & Rubicam Brands company)  | [[PeclersParis]] (A member of B to D Group)  | The  [[Brand Union]] (A member of B to D Group) | [[The Partners]] (A member of B to D Group)  | [[VBAT]] (A member of B to D Group) 
 +
*'''Healthcare Communications''' [[Feinstein Kean Healthcare]] (An Ogilvy Company) | [[GCI Health]] | [[ghg]] | [[Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide]] | [[Sudler and Hennessey]]  (A Young & Rubicam Brands company)
 +
*'''Direct, Digital, Promotion & Relationship Marketing'''[[A. Eicoff & Co]] | [[Actis Systems]] (Part of the Wunderman network) | [[AGENDA]] (Part of the Wunderman network) | [Aqua Online]] (Part of the Wunderman network) | [[Blast Radius]] (Part of the Wunderman network) | [[Brierley and Partners]] (Associate)  | [[Designkitchen]] (Part of the Wunderman network) | [[Dialogue 141]] | [[Digit]] | [[EWA]] | [[FullSIX]] | [[Grassroots]] (Associate) | [[G2]] | [[Headcount Worldwide Field Marketing]] | [[High Co]] (Associate)  | [[Kassius]] (Part of the Wunderman network) | [[KMB Group]] (Part of the Wunderman network) | [[Mando]] | [[Maxx Marketing]] | [[OgilvyAction]] | [[OgilvyOne Worldwide]] | [[OgilvyAction Sports and Entertainment Marketing]] | [[OOT]] | RTCM]] (A Young & Rubicam Brands company) | [[Smollan Group]] (Associate) | [[Studiocom]] (A Young & Rubicam Brands company) | [[These Days]] (Part of the Wunderman network) | [[Vice Media]] (Investment) | [[VML]] (A Young & Rubicam Brands company) | [[Wunderman]] (A Young & Rubicam Brands company) | [[ZAAZ]] (Part of the Wunderman network)
 +
*'''Specialist Communications'''
 +
**'''Corporate/B2B''', [[Ogilvy Primary Contact]] |
 +
**'''Custom Media''', [[Forward]] |
 +
**'''Demographic Marketing''', The [[Bravo Group]] (A Young & Rubicam Brands company)  | [[Kang and Lee]] (A Young & Rubicam Brands company) | [[Mosaica MD]] | [[UniWorld]] | [[WING]] (A Young & Rubicam Brands company)  |
 +
**'''Employer branding/recruitment''', [[JWT Inside]] | 
 +
**'''Event/face-to-face marketing''', [[MJM]] | [[Metro]] |
 +
**'''Foodservice Marketing''', The [[Food Group]] | 
 +
**'''Sports Marketing''', [[PRISM Group]] |
 +
**'''Entertainment Marketing'''[[Alliance]] | Youth marketing, The [[Geppetto Group]] |
 +
**'''Real Estate marketing''' [[Pace]] |
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**'''Technology Marketing''', [[Banner Corporation]] (A Young & Rubicam Brands company)  |
 +
**'''Media & Production Services''', The [[Farm Group]] | [[Hogarth Worldwide]] (Joint Venture) | [[Imagina]] (Investment) | [[MRC]] (Investment) | The [[Weinstein Company]]  (Investment) *'''WPP Digital'''
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[[24/7 Real Media]] | [[Blue State Digital]] | [[Deliver]] | [[Fabric Worldwide]] (Investmetn) | [[iconmobile]] (Associate) | [[Johannes Leonardo]] (Investment) | [[Possible Worldwide]] | [[Syzygy]]  (Associate)| The [[Media Innovation Group]] | [[True Worldwide]] (Investment)
 +
*'''WPP Digital partner companies'''
 +
[[Ace Metrix]] (Investment)  | [[Buddy Media]] (Investment)  | [[eCommera]] (Investment) | [[HDT Holdings Technology]] (Investment)  | [[In Game Ad Interactive]] (Investment) | [[Invidi]] (Investment) | [[Jumptap]] (Investment) | [[LiveWorld]] (Investment) | [[Moment Systems]] (Investment) | [[Proclivity]] (Investment) | [[Sat Media]] (Investment) | [[Visible Technologies]] (Associate) | [[Visible World]] (Investment) | [[Wild Tangent]]  (Investment) | [[Yield Software]] (Investment) 
 +
*'''WPP Knowledge Community''' [[The Store]] <ref> WPP, [http://www.wpp.com/annualreports/2010/overview/who-we-are/our-companies--associates.html Annual Report 2010] accessed 12th December 2011 </ref> 
  
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The group includes Madison Avenue agency Young & Rubicam, co-founded by Raymond Rubicam (1892-1978) and John Orr Young in 1923.
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In 2008, WPP was listed as a member of the [[American Benefits Council]]<ref>American Benefits Council [http://www.americanbenefitscouncil.org/about/memberlist.cfm Memberships] Accessed 26th February 2008</ref>
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:O&M
 
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David Ogilvy (famous for quips such as "The consumer is not a moron, she is your wife") founded New York-based agency Hewitt, Ogilvy, Benson & Mather in 1948 after entering the industry at age 38. The name changed to Ogilvy Benson & Mather in 1953, became Ogilvy & Mather International in 1965 through a merger with Ogilvy's original backers London agency Mather & Crowther, and was renamed Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide in the mid-80s before being put into Mr Sorrell's shopping cart.
 
  
 
==Further reading==
 
==Further reading==
 +
*David Ogilvy, ''Ogilvy on Advertising'' (New York: Crown 1983),
 +
*David Ogilvy, ''Confessions of an Advertising Man'' (New York: Atheneum 1963)
 +
*David Ogilvy, ''Blood, Brains & Beer: the Autobiography of David Ogilvy'' (New York: Wiley 1997)
 +
*Richard Morgan, ''J Walter Takeover: From Divine Right to Common Stock'' (Homewood: Dow Jones-Irwin 1991).
 +
*Lester Wunderman, Being Direct (New York: Random 1996).
 +
*Karen Miller, ''The Voice of Business: Hill & Knowlton and postwar public relations'' (Chapel Hill: Uni of North Carolina Press 1998)
 +
*Susan Trento, ''Power House: Robert Keith Gray & the selling of access and influence in Washington'' (New York: St Martins 1992).
  
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David Ogilvy, Ogilvy on Advertising (New York: Crown 1983),
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==External links==
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David Ogilvy, Confessions of an Advertising Man (New York: Atheneum 1963)
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Sharon Beder and Richard Gosden '[http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2001Q2/wpp.html WPP: World Propaganda Power]' ''PR Watch'', Volume 8, No. 2
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David Ogilvy, Blood, Brains & Beer: the Autobiography of David Ogilvy (New York: Wiley 1997)
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===References===
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+
<references/>
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Richard Morgan, J Walter Takeover: From Divine Right to Common Stock (Homewood: Dow Jones-Irwin 1991).
 
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Lester Wunderman, Being Direct (New York: Random 1996).
 
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Karen Miller, The Voice of Business: Hill & Knowlton and postwar public relations (Chapel Hill: Uni of North Carolina Press 1998)
 
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Sudan Trento, Power House: Robert Keith Gray & the selling of access and influence in Washington (New York: St Martins 1992).
 
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==Subsidiaries==
 
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===PR and Lobbying firms===
 
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*[[Banner Corporation]]
 
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*[[BizEvents]]
 
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*[[BKSH]]
 
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*[[Blanc & Otus]]
 
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*[[Buchanan Communications]]
 
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*[[Bulletin International]]
 
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*[[Burson-Marsteller]]
 
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*[[B|W|R, An Ogilvy PR Worldwide Company]]
 
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*[[Carl Byoir & Associates]]
 
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*[[Chime Communications Plc]]
 
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*[[Clarion Communications]]
 
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*[[Cohn & Wolfe]]
 
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*[[CommonHealth]]
 
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*[[Direct Impact]]
 
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*[[Finsbury]]
 
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*[[Food Group]]
 
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*[[GCI]]
 
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*[[Grey Global Group]]
 
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*[[Hill & Knowlton]]
 
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*[[IBI Inc]]
 
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*[[IPAN (India Public Affairs Network)]]
 
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*[[Offspring PR]]
 
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*[[Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide]]
 
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*[[Penn Schoen & Berland Associates]]
 
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*[[PiranhaKid Communications]]
 
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*[[PPR]]
 
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*[[PRISM]]
 
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*[[Quinn Gillespie]]
 
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*[[Robinson Lerer & Montgomery]]
 
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*[[Roman Brand Group]]
 
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*[[Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates]]
 
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*[[Y&R Business Communications]]
 
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===Full list of subsidiaries===
 
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===A-C===
 
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*[[141 Worldwide]]
 
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*[[20:20 Brand Action]]
 
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*[[A Eicoff]]
 
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*[[Added Value]]
 
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*[[Addison Corporate Marketing]]
 
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*[[Adient]]
 
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*[[AGB Group]]
 
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*[[Alliance]]
 
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*[[Argonauten360]]
 
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*[[ASATSU-DK INC.]]
 
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*[[AVHb2b]]
 
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*[[Banner Corporation]]
 
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*[[Bates Asia]]
 
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*[[Bates PanGulf]]
 
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*[[Batey / Red Cell]]
 
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*[[BDG McColl]]
 
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*[[BDGworkfutures]]
 
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*[[BEN Marketing]]
 
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*[[Beyond Interactive]]
 
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*[[BizEvents]]
 
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*[[BJK&E Media]]
 
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*[[BKSH]]
 
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*[[Blanc & Otus]]
 
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*[[BMRB]]
 
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*[[BPRI]]
 
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*[[Brand Buzz]]
 
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*[[The Bravo Group]]
 
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*[[Brierley & Partners]]
 
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*[[Brouillard Communications]]
 
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*[[Buchanan Communications]]
 
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*[[Bulletin International]]
 
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*[[Burson-Marsteller]]
 
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*[[B|W|R, An Ogilvy PR Worldwide Company]]
 
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*[[Cannondale Associates]]
 
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*[[Carbon]]
 
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*[[Carl Byoir & Associates]]
 
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*[[Carlyle Brand Consultants]]
 
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*[[CBA]]
 
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*[[Center Partners]]
 
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*[[Chime Communications Plc]]
 
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*[[Clarion Communications]]
 
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*[[Clever Media]]
 
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*[[Clockwork Capital]]
 
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*[[Cohn & Wolfe]]
 
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*[[Coley Porter Bell]]
 
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*[[CommonHealth]]
 
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*[[Compas]]
 
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*[[Concept!]]
 
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*[[Conectics]]
 
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===D-F===
 
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*[[David Communications Group]]
 
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*[[Dentsu, Young & Rubicam]]
 
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*[[Diagnostic Research]]
 
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*[[Diamond Ad]]
 
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*[[Digit]]
 
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*[[The Digital Edge]]
 
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*[[digital@JWT]]
 
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*[[Direct Impact]]
 
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*[[Dovetail]]
 
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*[[drs Insight Group]]
 
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*[[Dynamic Logic]]
 
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*[[e-tecture]]
 
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*[[Einson Freeman]]
 
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*[[EinsonHealth]]
 
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*[[Enterprise IG]]
 
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*[[Enterprise IG Health]]
 
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*[[Equus]]
 
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*[[Essence Communications]]
 
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*[[Etcom]]
 
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*[[Event Union]]
 
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*[[EWA Bespoke Communications]]
 
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*[[facts&fiction]]
 
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*[[The Farm]]
 
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*[[Feinstein Kean Healthcare (FKH)]]
 
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*[[Ferguson]]
 
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*[[Finsbury]]
 
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*[[Fitch]]
 
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*[[The Focus Network]]
 
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*[[Food Group]]
 
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*[[Forward]]
 
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*[[Fudge Group]]
 
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*[[FullSIX]]
 
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*[[Fusion5]]
 
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*[[Futurecom interactive]]
 
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===G-I===
 
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*[[G WHIZ]]
 
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*[[G2 Worldwide]]
 
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*[[GCI]]
 
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*[[Geometry]]
 
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*[[George Patterson, Y&R]]
 
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*[[Geppetto Group]]
 
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*[[Glass]]
 
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*[[Glendinning Management Consultants]]
 
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*[[Global Sportnet]]
 
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*[[Good Technology]]
 
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*[[The Grass Roots Group PLC]]
 
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*[[Grey Direct]]
 
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*[[Grey Global Group]]
 
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*[[Grey Healthcare]]
 
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*[[Grey Interactive]]
 
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*[[Grey Worldwide]]
 
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*[[Grey3]]
 
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*[[GroupM]]
 
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*[[Headcount]]
 
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*[[The Helm Agency]]
 
−
*[[Henley Centre Headlight Vision]]
 
−
*[[HighCo]]
 
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*[[Hill & Knowlton]]
 
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*[[Hill & Knowlton Netcoms]]
 
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*[[HLS (Health Learning Systems)]]
 
−
*[[HMA Blaze]]
 
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*[[IBI Inc]]
 
−
*[[IBOPE Media Information]]
 
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*[[icon brand navigation group]]
 
−
*[[IdeaWorks]]
 
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*[[IMRB International]]
 
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*[[Inferentia Fullsix S.p.A]]
 
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*[[Information Design Unit]]
 
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*[[The Initiatives Group]]
 
  
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===J-L===
+
[[Category:Public relations firms]][[Category:Lobbying firms]] [[Category:Financial sector lobbying]]
−
*[[IPAN (India Public Affairs Network)]]
 
−
*[[J. Brown]]
 
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*[[Joshua]]
 
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*[[JWT]]
 
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*[[JWT Specialized Communications Ltd]]
 
−
*[[Kang & Lee Advertising]]
 
−
*[[Kantar Group]]
 
−
*[[Kantya Brand Strategies]]
 
−
*[[KMR Group]]
 
−
*[[KnowledgeBase Marketing]]
 
−
*[[KR Media]]
 
−
*[[Lambie-Nairn]]
 
−
*[[Landor Associates]]
 
−
*[[LG Ad Inc]]
 
−
*[[Lightspeed Research]]
 
−
===M-O===
 
−
*[[Malone]]
 
−
*[[Management Ventures]]
 
−
*[[Mando Brand Assurance]]
 
−
*[[Marsteller]]
 
−
*[[Mattson Jack]]
 
−
*[[Maxus]]
 
−
*[[Maxx Marketing]]
 
−
*[[MBS/Vox]]
 
−
*[[The MC Group]]
 
−
*[[MD/Salud]]
 
−
*[[MDS Global Consulting]]
 
−
*[[MEC:Sponsorship]]
 
−
*[[Media Insight]]
 
−
*[[Media Puzzle]]
 
−
*[[Media+]]
 
−
*[[Mediacom]]
 
−
*[[Mediaedge:cia]]
 
−
*[[Mediapro Group]]
 
−
*[[Medical Broadcasting Company]]
 
−
*[[Mendoza Dillon]]
 
−
*[[Metro]]
 
−
*[[Millward Brown]]
 
−
*[[MindShare]]
 
−
*[[MJM]]
 
−
*[[mOne]]
 
−
*[[Mosaica]]
 
−
*[[Motivator]]
 
−
*[[Noesis]]
 
−
*[[Nylon]]
 
−
*[[Offspring PR]]
 
−
*[[Ogilvy & Mather]]
 
−
*[[Ogilvy Primary Contact]]
 
−
*[[Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide]]
 
−
*[[OgilvyHealthworld]]
 
−
*[[OgilvyInteractive]]
 
−
*[[OgilvyOne Worldwide]]
 
−
*[[ohal]]
 
−
*[[Outrider]]
 
−
===P-R===
 
−
*[[PACE]]
 
−
*[[The Partners]]
 
−
*[[Penn Schoen & Berland Associates]]
 
−
*[[Performance]]
 
−
*[[Performance SportEnt Worldwide]]
 
−
*[[pFour Consultancy Ltd]]
 
−
*[[PiranhaKid Communications]]
 
−
*[[Planners]]
 
−
*[[Plush Films]]
 
−
*[[Portland Outdoor]]
 
−
*[[PPR]]
 
−
*[[PQ Plakat Qualitat]]
 
−
*[[Premiere Sponsorship Marketing]]
 
−
*[[PRISM]]
 
−
*[[Pro Deo]]
 
−
*[[ProCom]]
 
−
*[[PurelyMedia]]
 
−
*[[Qi]]
 
−
*[[Quadra Advisory]]
 
−
*[[Quantum]]
 
−
*[[Quinn Gillespie]]
 
−
*[[Red Cell]]
 
−
*[[Research International]]
 
−
*[[RMG Connect]]
 
−
*[[Robinson Lerer & Montgomery]]
 
−
*[[Roman Brand Group]]
 
−
*[[RTC Relationship Marketing]]
 
−
===S-U===
 
−
*[[SCPF]]
 
−
*[[Shire Health]]
 
−
*[[SMG KRC]]
 
−
*[[Soho Square]]
 
−
*[[Solara]]
 
−
*[[Spafax]]
 
−
*[[Sprint Production]]
 
−
*[[The Store]]
 
−
*[[Strategic Horizons]]
 
−
*[[Sudler & Hennessey]]
 
−
*[[Syzygy]]
 
−
*[[Teledirect]]
 
−
*[[the campaign palace / red cell]]
 
−
*[[Uniworld]]
 
−
===V-Z===
 
−
*[[VBAT]]
 
−
*[[VML]]
 
−
*[[The Voluntarily United Group of Creative Agencies]]
 
−
*[[WalkerGroup]]
 
−
*[[Warwicks UK Ltd]]
 
−
*[[Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates]]
 
−
*[[WINGLATINO]]
 
−
*[[Wire and Plastic Products]]
 
−
*[[Wunderman]]
 
−
*[[Xchange]]
 
−
*[[XM]]
 
−
*[[XM Asia Pacific]]
 
−
*[[Y&R]]
 
−
*[[Y&R Business Communications]]
 
−
*[[Young & Rubicam Brands HQ]]
 
−
*[[Zenith Media]]
 
−
*[[Ziment]]
 

Latest revision as of 15:32, 28 April 2012

Twenty-pound-notes.jpg This article is part of the Lobbying Portal, a sunlight project from Spinwatch.

WPP is one of the big three marketing and communications conglomerates along with Interpublic and Omnicom. In 2011 WPP employ over 146,000 people (including associates) operating out of almost 2,400 offices in 107 countries. [1] The scale and revenue of the company have grown dramatically since 2001.

WPP's 2001 revenues were $5791m: Advertising accounted for 46%; specialist communications, 27%; info and consultancy, 15%; and public relations and affairs, 12.3%. Including associates, the Group had over 65,000 full-time people in over 1,400 offices in 103 countries at the end of 2001. In 2001 WPP worked for over 300 of the Fortune Global 500 companies and over half of the Nasdaq 100. WPP serviced 330 national or multi-national clients in three or more disciplines and over 150 clients in four disciplines. Globally, WPP worked with over 100 clients in six or more countries (WPP, 2001, p. 2).

By 2010 the firm's estimated revenues were £11.6 billion. [2]

The global WPP group encompasses the J. Walter Thompson, Ogilvy & Mather, Tempus, Grey Global and Young & Rubicam advertising agencies. The conglomerate also includes public relations, lobbying, media planning and buying, marketing and research services through Hill & Knowlton, Burson-Marsteller, MindShare and The Kantar Group.

Evolution of the group

WPP czar Martin Sorrell was the 'third brother' acting as finance director at Saatchi & Saatchi (now part of Publicis) from 1975 to 1986 before acquiring UK shopping cart manufacturer Wire & Plastic Products (WPP). He used WPP as a vehicle for acquiring 'below-the-line' advertising-related businesses.

In 1987 he made a successful US$566m hostile bid for the venerable J. Walter Thompson. Two years later he expanded the group through the US$825m purchase of the equally prestigious Ogilvy & Mather, despite opposition from ad icon David Ogilvy (1911-1999).

In 2003 WPP successfully bid for the ailing Cordiant group, acquired for a mere US$17 million (plus assumption of debts). It acquired Grey Global in 2004 with cash and shares worth just over US$1.3bn (£720m). As of 2000 Grey had sales of US$1,247 million and earnings of US$19 million.Source [1]

Directors[3]

  • Philip Lader Non-executive chairman
  • Sir Martin Sorrell Chief executive. Martin Sorrell joined WPP in 1986 as a director, becoming Group chief executive in the same year. e-mail: msorrell@wpp.com
  • Paul Richardson Executive director and Director of Finance
  • Mark Read Executive Director and Strategy Director
  • Colin Day, Non-Executive Director and Member of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee
  • Esther Dyson, Non-Executive Director and Member of the Compensation Committee and Nomination Committee
  • Orit Gadiesh, Non-executive Director and Member of the Nomination Committee
  • Ruigang Li, Non-Executive Director
  • Stanley (Bud) Morten, Senior independent director (until April 2010)
  • Koichiro Naganuma, Non-Executive Director
  • Lubna Olayan, Non-Executive Director and Member of the Nomination Committee
  • John Quelch, Non-Executive Director
  • Jeffrey Rosen, Non-Executive Director, Chairman of the Compensation Committee and Member of the Audit Committee Senior independent director (from April 2010)
  • Timothy Shriver, Non-Executive Director and Member of the Compensation Committee
  • Paul Spencer, Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee
  • Sol Trujillo, Non-Executive Director and Member of the Audit Committee

Former Directors

Vocal on tax issues

Boss Martin Sorrell long made a big noise over Britain's 'uncompetitive' tax regime under the Labour government, and in 2008 he moved WPP's tax base to Ireland. So his much trumpeted promise to return to the UK after George Osborne's 2011 budget hailed a massive 5 per cent cut to corporation tax and changes to the way overseas profits are taxed was a big coup for the Coalition. Critics called it a "carefully stage-managed" announcement as part of Osborne's drive to show Britain was "open for business"

But it was hardly surprising, given that the advertising giant has a seat on the HM Treasury's Business Forum on Tax and Competitiveness, a talking shop where business and Treasury ministers come together ‘to discuss ways in which Government can improve the competitiveness of UK’s tax system’.

Sorrell admitted to the Guardian that there had been discussions between WPP and the government "for many months, and particularly since the [2010] Davos summit".

The coalition from the very beginning had said it was crucially important that Britain had a competitive tax landscape," he said. "They've gone further than I expected on corporate [tax] and also on personal taxation." The higher income tax rate of 50p is expected to be cut. [4]

Biggest FTSE 100 user of tax havens

A new tax havens database compiled by the anti-poverty charity ActionAid in October 2011 revealed just how embedded the use of tax havens is in the structures of nearly all Britain’s biggest companies.

It found that WPP was the biggest FTSE 100 tax haven user overall with 611 tax haven companies. [5]

Subsidiaries as of April 2010

24/7 Real Media | Blue State Digital | Deliver | Fabric Worldwide (Investmetn) | iconmobile (Associate) | Johannes Leonardo (Investment) | Possible Worldwide | Syzygy (Associate)| The Media Innovation Group | True Worldwide (Investment)

  • WPP Digital partner companies

Ace Metrix (Investment) | Buddy Media (Investment) | eCommera (Investment) | HDT Holdings Technology (Investment) | In Game Ad Interactive (Investment) | Invidi (Investment) | Jumptap (Investment) | LiveWorld (Investment) | Moment Systems (Investment) | Proclivity (Investment) | Sat Media (Investment) | Visible Technologies (Associate) | Visible World (Investment) | Wild Tangent (Investment) | Yield Software (Investment)

In 2008, WPP was listed as a member of the American Benefits Council[7]

Further reading

  • David Ogilvy, Ogilvy on Advertising (New York: Crown 1983),
  • David Ogilvy, Confessions of an Advertising Man (New York: Atheneum 1963)
  • David Ogilvy, Blood, Brains & Beer: the Autobiography of David Ogilvy (New York: Wiley 1997)
  • Richard Morgan, J Walter Takeover: From Divine Right to Common Stock (Homewood: Dow Jones-Irwin 1991).
  • Lester Wunderman, Being Direct (New York: Random 1996).
  • Karen Miller, The Voice of Business: Hill & Knowlton and postwar public relations (Chapel Hill: Uni of North Carolina Press 1998)
  • Susan Trento, Power House: Robert Keith Gray & the selling of access and influence in Washington (New York: St Martins 1992).

External links

Sharon Beder and Richard Gosden 'WPP: World Propaganda Power' PR Watch, Volume 8, No. 2

References

  1. ↑ WPP, Annual Report 2010 accessed 12th December 2011
  2. ↑ WPP, Letter to Share Owners accessed 12th December 2011
  3. ↑ WPP, Members of the Board of Directors April 2010, accessed 12th December 2011
  4. ↑ Graeme Wearden, Jill Treanor and Henry McDonald in Dublin, WPP poised to return to UK – but how many are following suit?, guardian.co.uk, Thursday 24 March 2011 20.50 GMT
  5. ↑ ActionAid [Addicted to tax havens], 11 October 2011, accessed same day
  6. ↑ WPP, Annual Report 2010 accessed 12th December 2011
  7. ↑ American Benefits Council Memberships Accessed 26th February 2008
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