Campaign Asia

WPP’s Mark Read on the outlook for 2024, bonuses, fewer freelancers and job cuts

The CEO talks to Campaign after WPP's revenues grew less than 1%.

M&C Saatchi to appoint Zaid Al-Qassab as group chief executive

Appointment of Channel 4 CMO to top job is likely to be seen as a surprise because he has not worked in agency sector.

Publicis wins vote for Arthur Sadoun to head single board after seeing off critics

Maurice Lévy says it was a “total absurdity” for proxy advisers to oppose Sadoun's combined role as chair and CEO on new unitary board.

WPP blames Pfizer loss and tech client cuts for 1.6% revenue fall in Q1

In contrast, Publicis, Omnicom and IPG all increased their revenues.

Publicis organic growth jumps 5.3% in Q1

Groupe says growth driven by 'new business tailwinds' with a 'clear rebound in the tech sector'.

Global chief financial officer departs Dentsu after 20 years

A string of senior executives from outside Japan have departed after Wendy Clark and Jacki Kelley left.

Jaguar Land Rover picks winner in expanded global agency review

Carmaker enters ‘period of exclusivity’ with agency group—with media-buying added during pitch process in surprise move.

WPP’s Laurent Ezekiel set to do U-turn and pull out of job move to Publicis

He is expected to land a new, bigger role as new CEO Cindy Rose takes charge.

Dentsu CEO responds to international sale speculation: ‘No decisions have been made’

'We aim to rebuild our international business on our own,' Hiroshi Igarashi says, although it is considering other options.

Andrew Scott, WPP’s global COO and M&A guru, to step down after 27 years

Close ally of outgoing CEO Mark Read will support new boss Cindy Rose until end of 2025.

Cindy Rose’s debut message to WPP staff: ‘Super-excited’ but won’t ‘sugar-coat’ challenges

New CEO invited staff to a global town hall on September 4 in a video address.

Omnicom reveals huge agency shake-up, unveils new leadership, cuts 4,000 jobs

Sweeping Omnicom shake-up will scrap three storied creative networks—DDB, FCB and MullenLowe.

WPP brings in McKinsey to advise on strategic review

Consulting firm is helping to 'facilitate and stress-test' planning for new strategy.

WPP CEO and chair buy 100,000 shares after stock price slump

Cindy Rose and Philip Jansen make co-ordinated purchases worth £280,000 in attempt to boost sentiment.

Top WPP executive Laurent Ezekiel to join Publicis

Ezekiel currently has dual role as CMO of WPP and CEO of WPP Open X, the holding company’s bespoke global agency for Coca-Cola.

Cindy Rose has a huge to-do list to get WPP flowering again

The new CEO needs to be clear about what WPP stands for and how it goes to market.

Arthur Sadoun on ‘massively increasing gap’ on rivals, winning in creative, and rethinking Cannes

Publicis CEO spoke to Campaign at Q2 results.

WPP's 'pretty grim' profit warning: stock market analysts react

Analysts assessed whether further downgrades will be a broader industry issue.

WPP recruits Microsoft exec Cindy Rose to replace Mark Read as CEO

She is already a WPP non-executive director on its board.

Scrutiny over media trading will be a top story in next year, Campaign editors say

Five of Campaign's global editors spoke on a panel at Campaign House in Cannes.

Arthur Sadoun: Agencies should be ‘optimistic’ not ‘scared’ about future

Publicis CEO gave exclusive interview at Campaign House on first day of Cannes Lions.

Mark Read to step down as WPP CEO after seven years

Board begins formal search for new CEO.

Creative agency shake-up at WPP: Grey to move into Ogilvy Group

Grey will split from AKQA as part of the move.

Dentsu shares slump 11% as buyers walk away from sale of international unit

Dentsu says it has made no announcements on its international business, after reports that talks to sell the unit have collapsed.

Publicis turns 100: history, family, warrior spirit and a huge cake at Paris party

Campaign reports from centenary bash for French agency group.

Publicis CEO hits out at Omnicom’s ‘apples and oranges’ approach on revenue

Arthur Sadoun calls on Omnicom to change how it reports revenues to improve transparency after IPG takeover.

Mel Edwards to step down from VML after 13 years at WPP

She has most recently been global president at integrated creative network.

Why has GroupM lost its way for so long? The buck stops with WPP

The visceral response to the latest restructuring has been a lament for the way the holding company has moved too slowly and downgraded its agency brands over many years.

Santander on its shift to one global agency, why it picked Publicis and how ‘data is key’

Bank has been rethinking its $1 billion-a-year spend on advertising and communications to drive consistency and effectiveness in age of AI.

Publicis hikes salaries 7% after record 2024 and is ‘confident’ on outlook

Agency group 'reinforces talent pool' as it sees 'opportunity' in challenging 'new Omnicom'.

The $31 billion Omnicom-IPG deal has industrial logic but also many caveats

The biggest beneficiary might not be the two companies involved, but the wider agency sector itself, writes Campaign UK editor-in-chief, Gideon Spanier.

Omnicom in talks to buy Interpublic—report

Omnicom and IPG: Rumours of a merger surfaced a year ago.

Publicis buys identity firm Lotame as Arthur Sadoun updates AI pitch to clients

CEO outlined client examples in 23-minute video presentation.

WPP shares slump as revenue declines and headcount drops by 6000

The operations in India grew 2.8% but China declined by 20.8% on the back of pressures surrounding Group M.

Havas warns of ‘reputational’ risk from fossil-fuel clients after backlash over Shell win

The Vivendi-owned agency group made the disclosure in its stock market prospectus.

MediaSense buys R3 as it eyes global client opportunities in creative

The change impacts APAC markets, including Singapore, New Delhi, Jakarta, Hong Kong, and Sydney, while R3 China will continue to operate as a MediaSense affiliate.

Havas to offer staff up over $40 million in incentives as it lines up Dutch stock market debut

Bosses could get extra $8 million in cash bonuses for working on separation from Vivendi, prospectus reveals.

Publicis grows 4.9% in Q1; says new business streak will ‘offset’ Trump tariff fallout

Agency group is “extremely confident” it will hit annual growth forecast, expected to be between 4% and 5% in 2025

Will the 'big six' become the 'big three'?

Gideon Spanier explains the likely impact of the impending Omnicom takeover of Interpublic.

Omnicom and IPG shareholders approve takeover in key ‘milestone’

US-based Omnicom still requires consent of regulators in 17 markets to acquire IPG.

Two hedge funds increase short positions in WPP in bet against share price

The agency group cut revenue forecast in August but won Amazon and retained Unilever in key markets.

WPP slashes bonuses and dividend; incoming CEO Cindy Rose to review strategy

Agency group cuts staff incentives by 60%.

Omnicom was best-performing stock among agency giants in 2022

WPP was weakest performer among 'big four'.

Publicis Conseil, Ogilvy and WPP win agency, network and most creative company of year at Cannes Lions 2024

WPP takes back holding company award from Omnicom.

M&C Saatchi teases new logo and ‘Plus’ brand proposition at Cannes

Chief executive Zaid Al-Qassab to announce planned changes at festival.

Cannes Lions entries drop slightly as new humour category attracts 798 submissions

While entries from the US and UK were “broadly flat,” submissions from Singapore were up 93%, and New Zealand jumped 47%.

Havas pushes integration with new ‘Converged’ strategy and invests $429.3 million in AI and tech

French agency group’s moves come ahead of possible stock market float.

WPP now expects revenues to decline in 2024 after cutting forecast and 3,000 roles

China's Q2 revenues declined by 24.2%, impacting overall Asia-Pacific performance.

WPP’s Mark Read on how GroupM needs to improve, China woes and ‘cautious’ clients

Holding group CEO spoke to Campaign at Q2 results.

Why Lions is buying Effie: to help brands make ‘better case’ for investing in marketing

Planned acquisition comes at the same time as Ascential, the parent company of Lions, completes its £1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) sale to Informa this week.

Omnicom share price hits record high after breaking $100 barrier

Staff who own shares will benefit from rising stock price.

Unilever announces result of global media review with six rivals sharing duties

Publicis has taken over five out of six markets pitched in Southeast Asia, with only Indonesia remaining with WPP's Mindshare.

‘Moray isn’t working’: M&C Saatchi’s poster tribute as CEO leaves after 40 years

MacLennan says he is “hanging up my advertising boots”.

Publicis was top-performing agency stock in 2023 with 41% share price leap

French group cements status as most valuable agency holding company among global peers.

Second high-level departure at Omnicom as CMO steps down

Departure will raise questions over holdco strategy.

Omnicom strategy chief Alex Hesz departs to focus on UK general election

He leaves the holding company role after just over a year.

VML’s chiefs on new super-agency, redefining creativity and making cost savings

Jon Cook and Mel Edwards say criticism over the loss of legacy agency brand names like J Walter Thompson and Young & Rubicam disrespects the work put into evolving them.

Top investor David Herro on WPP vs Publicis and why he's keeping faith in agencies

WPP has been 'moving the ball forward,' despite 'extremely disappointing' share price, top US fund manager says in an interview with Campaign.

After five years of evolution, does WPP need to be more radical?

Agency group, which used to be the world's biggest, faces pressure on multiple fronts.

Arthur Sadoun on ‘taking share’ from rivals and why ‘I like everything’ about office working

Publicis CEO talks to Campaign after Q3 results beat forecasts.

Publicis continues hot streak as it upgrades Q3 forecast and ‘gains market share'

“Publicis will undoubtedly be the industry leader for organic growth”, analyst says.

Cannes Lions launches Luxury & Lifestyle award category and drops Mobile

There has been demand from luxury sector to recognise creativity, awards organisers say.

AKQA and Grey merge operations in five markets in efficiency drive

AKQA will become the sole brand in Australia while Grey will lead merged operations in China as part of a 'strategic realignment' to allow Grey to focus on 'growth markets'.

Yannick Bolloré on leading Havas until 2035, break-up ‘rationale’ and staff pay

CEO talked to Campaign about the plan to spin off Havas from Vivendi and why AI is an opportunity.

Omnicom makes biggest ever acquisition with $900 million deal for Ascential’s Flywheel

US agency group buys digital commerce business from owner of Cannes Lions.

Mark Read: We haven’t been slow to simplify WPP, we’re dealing with Sorrell’s ‘30 years of inactivity’

WPP's CEO talks to Campaign after Q3 revenue decline.

WPP suffers surprise Q3 decline and plans US$120 million savings drive

Job cuts are likely to be part of plan focused on simplification at Group M and VML.

Havas claims to be among ‘best in class’ with 4.5% growth in Q3

French agency group expects organic revenue to be ahead of most rivals.

Adland must reframe the creative narrative

The story must change as the industry comes under financial pressures and the power of technology and AI looms large.

Cannes agency of the year GUT doubles profits as it eyes global expansion

Five-year-old independent network has said 'our plan is global domination'.

WPP promotes chief operating officer Andrew Scott to board

His focus is on driving ‘operational effectiveness’.

Publicis to award Arthur Sadoun $12 million ‘retention’ bonus to stay as CEO until 2027

Share award is worth ten times his annual salary, but ultimate value will depend on the share price in five years’ time.

Cannes Lions 2023 countdown: CEO Simon Cook on what to expect, from awards to AI

Sustainability and inclusion will be under scrutiny at festival.

Moray MacLennan to leave M&C Saatchi as CEO

New chair Zillah Byng-Thorne takes temporary charge for up to 12 months.

Publicis ups pressure on rivals as ‘double-digit’ growth in media powers Q2

Organic revenue rose 7.1% for second quarter in a row despite economic uncertainty.

Chime to spin off sports marketing arm but VCCP is ‘categorically not’ for sale

VCCP is two-thirds of business.

Uncommon Creative Studio sells majority stake to Havas in deal worth up to $156 million

US expansion is key reason for Uncommon to take investment.

Omnicom buys global media agency Ptarmigan for ‘deep’ financial services expertise, with five key offices in APAC

Agency has more than 150 staff and $160 million in billings.

Publicis shares jump briefly on Vivendi tie-up rumour but ‘planets don’t seem aligned’

Deal is “unlikely” for a number of reasons, Bank of America says.

Jacki Kelley quits Dentsu to return to IPG as chief client and chief business officer

Latest in a string of departures from Dentsu.

We need ‘more lighthouse work, not just fireworks’: David Droga on creativity and Cannes

Accenture Song CEO talks to Campaign.

Justin Billingsley abruptly exits as global CMO of Publicis Groupe

French agency group has 'ended' his employment.

WPP flags profit margin squeeze because of staff costs and inflation

Q3 revenues rose 3.8%.

Omnicom recruits MediaLink's Kathleen Saxton to be its first CMO

US group wants to connect its agency capabilities more closely.

Publicis spends nearly $50 million on ‘exceptional bonus’ for 45,000 staff to cope with cost of living

Upbeat group raises revenue forecast for second quarter in a row at Q3 results.

Arthur Sadoun on Publicis Q3 results upgrade, bonuses and where clients won’t cut spend

CEO has seen no material impact yet from inflation crisis.

Omnicom high-flyer Alex Hesz on holdco strategy: ‘Clients want one arse to kick’

The recently-appointed global chief strategy officer talks about “reverence” for agency brands and reveals why he pulled out of that big Dentsu job.

GroupM launches 'unified' data business [m]Platform

New business unites data, analytics and technology from GroupM, Kantar, Millward Brown and Wunderman.

Publicis poaches top WPP executive Demet Ikiler for new EMEA COO role

UK is an area of particular focus.

Publicis leads global business initiative to support employees with cancer

More than 30 major companies have already committed “to erase the stigma of cancer in the workplace” by guaranteeing jobs for staff living with cancer.