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WPP H1 Profits Plunge 71% to £98 Million and Dividend Halved

The interim payout cut aims to free up capital ahead of Cindy Rose’s September takeover

Overview

  • Revenues dropped 7.8% in the first half, with the decline accelerating to 5.8% in the second quarter as clients cut ad spending under President Trump’s tariffs
  • WPP reduced its workforce by around 4,000 roles, bringing total staff to about 104,000
  • Clients in sectors such as automotive and consumer goods scaled back budgets in response to macroeconomic volatility and U.S. tariffs
  • WPP increased its annual investment in AI to over £300 million to drive efficiency and future growth
  • Incoming CEO Cindy Rose will lead a strategic review of WPP’s operations and capital allocation upon her September takeover