WPP Group (UK)

British marketing giant WPP overtook long-time rival Omnicom for the first time in 2008 to become the world's biggest marketing group, as well as the most profitable. Revenues for 2008 were around $13.6bn. Very much the personal creation of its founder Sir Martin Sorrell, WPP now owns four of the world's largest advertising agencies in JWT, Ogilvy & Mather, Young & Rubicam and Grey. These are partnered by the four global media networks Mindshare, Mediaedge:cia, Mediacom and Maxus, under the overall banner of GroupM. WPP also controls a substantial portfolio of market research, PR, direct marketing, design and consultancy subsidiaries. Whereas most of its main rivals have avoided large acquisitions in recent years, WPP has continued to expand its portfolio, reinforcing Sorrell's reputation as the industry's most skilled dealmaker. Among the latest large additions to the collection were digital advertising network 24/7 Real Media in 2007, and global research group TNS, acquired during 2008 after a long and sometimes bitter siege.

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Competitors: See ranking of Leading Advertising Groups Worldwide

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WPP website

Advertising

JWT	Asatsu-DK
Ogilvy & Mather	United
Young & Rubicam	High Co.
Grey Group	VML
Shanghai Advertising	LG Ad
Bates 141	CHI & Partners
Soho Square	Enfatico
Johannes Leonardo	Brierley & Partners
Santo	Tapsa

Media

MindShare	Maxus
Mediaedge: CIA	Kinetic
MediaCom	Outdoor Connection
Group M	KR Media
24/7 Real Media	BJK&E

Information & Consultancy

The Kantar Group

TNS

Healthcare

CommonHealth	Healthworld
Shire Hall

Public Relations

Hill and Knowlton	The Wexler Group
Ogilvy PR	Buchanan Communications
Chime Communications	Finsbury
Blanc & Otus	Cohn & Wolfe

Design & Branding

The Brand Union (Enterprise IG)	Scott Stern
Coley Porter Bell	Warwicks
Banner McBride	BrownKSDP
Addison	CB'a
BDGworkfutures	icon
Lambie-Nairn	Fitch Worldwide

Direct & Relationship Marketing

OgilvyOne	Grass Roots Group
Ogilvy Action	Concept!
Imaginet	RTCdirect
Einson Freeman	Syzygy

Specialist Communications

Clockwork Capital	Global Sportnet
Metro Group	Spafax Airline Network
DigiReels	Forward
Prism	The Food Group

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