- WPP India revenue slips 2.9 per cent as client spending declines across key sectors, including consumer packaged goods and technology.
- AI drives transformation at WPP, with the company expanding partnerships with Google, Meta, and Amazon Web Services and launching new AI initiatives.
- Cindy Rose leads a turnaround strategy, reorganizing WPP into four operating businesses and securing new clients like The Estée Lauder Companies.
- The slowdown mirrored broader weakness across the Asia-Pacific region, where revenue less pass-through costs fell 3.8 per cent during the six-month period.
- WPP remains committed to its Elevate28 transformation programme, targeting £500 million in annualised cost savings by 2028.
- Healthcare and pharmaceutical clients remained resilient, while automotive advertising showed signs of recovery during the second quarter.
WPP India reported a 2.9% decline in like-for-like revenue during the first half of 2026, underperforming the broader advertising market due to client losses and reduced spending from key sectors. The Asia-Pacific region also experienced a 3.8% revenue drop during the same period.
The decline was attributed to the timing of major sporting events, which disrupted advertising expenditure and media buying patterns. Notably, consumer packaged goods companies, contributing 27% of WPP's global revenue, saw a 9.1% revenue decline, while technology and digital services clients cut spending by 9.2%.12
Despite these challenges, WPP's momentum improved in the second quarter, with signs of recovery in automotive advertising. The company launched HEX, a specialist AI studio, and expanded partnerships with Google, Meta, and Amazon Web Services, embedding AI capabilities into its WPP Open platform.9
CEO Cindy Rose has reorganized the company into four operating businesses focused on media, creative, production, and enterprise solutions, all powered by WPP Open. The firm is committed to its Elevate28 transformation programme, targeting £500 million in annualized cost savings by 2028, with an expected £100 million in savings this year.568
WPP also secured new business from The Estée Lauder Companies, Henkel, and Wendy’s while retaining major clients like L’Oréal and Huawei.
“The decline mirrors a 3.8 per cent drop across Asia-Pacific, though second-quarter momentum improved. WPP expanded AI partnerships with Google, Meta, and AWS, embedding capabilities into WPP Open, and targets £500 million in annualised savings by 2028 under Elevate28.”
/afaqs/media/media_files/2024/11/11/OJq1LUL77JKaC5kpAjvo.png)
/afaqs/media/agency_attachments/2024-09-24t094211605z-favicon.png){kind=small}
