WPP has deferred its scheduled October–November global pay reviews for some employees to May 2026, while others have been slated to receive revisions in January next year. The move has followed the launch of a major strategic review and tightened cost controls during a challenging financial year.
WPP has, as per media reports, appointed McKinsey & Company in November to advise on its transformation plan. The consultancy has been tasked with facilitating and stress-testing the roadmap for a renewed long-term strategy.
The review has been led by WPP’s new chief executive Cindy Rose, who replaced Mark Read on September 1. She has described the company’s recent performance as “unacceptable” during the Q3 earnings call in October and has promised to unveil detailed plans in early 2026. The company has expected annual revenue to decline between 5.5% and 6% this year.
The review has focused on simplifying and integrating client offerings, scaling AI-led capabilities tied to measurable business impact, expanding technology and enterprise services, and rebuilding financial performance through greater operational efficiency and disciplined capital allocation.
The renewed partnership with McKinsey has marked the second time in recent years that WPP has engaged the firm, following an earlier collaboration in 2020. Earlier this year, WPP Media has hired Emily Del Greco, former McKinsey partner, as global COO.
The overhaul has come alongside continued restructuring, including the 2023 merger of Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R to form VML, and the 2025 rebranding of GroupM as WPP Media. Group headcount has dropped by 7,000 to 104,000 by mid-2025, partly driven by divestments such as the sale of FGS Global.
With rising investor scrutiny and two profit warnings issued in three months, WPP’s leadership, supported by McKinsey, has prepared for sweeping changes aimed at restoring growth momentum and reinforcing its standing in the global advertising industry.
