Finally, WPP gets scary
Sixteen months ago, I wrote an opinion piece asking why nobody feared WPP’s media agencies.
Fair to say that things have changed. Friday’s Unilever victory by Mindshare (worth $45m if you believe Nielsen, $80m according to B&T, $85m by the SMH’s calculations and $100m in AFR dollars) seals the deal.
It may well be the biggest single piece of media business that changes hands all year.
It also marks an extraordinarily fast start for CEO James Greet, who only took the helm in June last year after a stint working in recruitment.
WPP has always been scary… To work for
I was thinking the same thing… WPP is a hearless animal internally and it is, indeed, a bit scary to work for… local office, fine, regionally or globally? Aaarrrggghhh!
“But of course, not everything is rosy for WPP in Australia. Some of the WPP PR agencies have a way to go”
Care to elaborate on that one Tim?
Hi The Internetz,
I started to write about WPP’s PR and advertising interests in Australia- then realised it would potentially double the length of the post. But I will do so at some point shortly.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Toby’s collars have ALWAYS been scary – move over Ming the Merciless!
It’s scary in a ‘omg I can’t believe you actually get business done’ way. Once you’ve been inside you start dropping the breadcumbs so you can find your way out again.
@Halloween: I work for WPP and can say it’s a great place to work.
So think about this. If I were a competitor, why would I say this? And if I did work at WPP and didn’t believe this, why would I post it? Think about that Halloween.
@Totes McGotes
Well one reason may be because you’re a senior manager there and don’t want people in the industry to think it’s a bad place to work, as this will make it difficult to attract talent… think about that
@Ummm
Once again, a complete assumption which I can 100% honestly say is 100% wrong. I’m rather junior. Can’t help it that I’m a positive fellow that knows that everything is what you make of is.
Shall we continue the thinking?
A lot has to do with the influence of John Steedman at GroupM. I think without him, and the good hires made at all levels by the media agencies there, it would still be in the doldrums. Only question is: what the hell will happen when he retires?
Imagine combining Jenners Collars with Greets Head – now that’s really, really scary!