The news: WPP will reportedly rebrand GroupM as WPP Media as part of WPP’s broader restructuring, per Ad Age.
- GroupM CEO Brian Lesser told employees the changes will include layoffs in several markets, including “sunsetting agency-specific titles that can create barriers to working together,” per an internal memo obtained by The Drum.
- Lesser said the company, which employs 40,000 people, is “evolving the role of our agency brands to house dedicated client teams,” and that agencies under the GroupM label will “no longer operate as distinct business units.”
Why the change? The rebrand is part of WPP’s broader effort to restructure amid a string of losses. Consolidating under the WPP name creates clearer market positioning, minimizing confusion about the relationship between WPP and its media division for prospective clients and signaling strategic evolution to current clients and investors.