WPP is set to retire its GroupM brand, which houses its media agencies, renaming it WPP Media, per several industry reports.
ADWEEK also learned of the decision to sunset the 20-year-old name from a source with knowledge of the matter.
A WPP spokesperson told ADWEEK: “We don’t comment on speculation.”
Switching out the 20-year-old name is set to occur before summer, and follows what WPP chief executive (CEO) Mark Read described in the company’s annual report as a “year of transition” for the media investment division under new CEO Brian Lesser, who joined in September 2024.
GroupM employs around 40,000 people, more than a third of WPP’s total global workforce.
Ad Age reported that there will be layoffs as part of the process, related to the consolidation of individual media agency teams. WPP declined to comment on any reduction in staff.
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