WPP has reportedly explored a potential sale of its public relations arm Burson, with advisers at Goldman Sachs reviewing strategic options, according to multiple media reports.
As per media reports, the move has marked a near-complete exit from the PR sector for WPP, following its earlier decision to sell a majority stake in FGS Global to private equity firm KKR. The potential divestment has also represented the first significant disposal under chief executive Cindy Rose, who has been leading a broader effort to simplify the company’s structure and restore growth.
Burson has been created in 2024 through the merger of BCW and Hill & Knowlton. The firm has employed approximately 6,000 people worldwide and has represented the core of WPP’s remaining PR operations.
The review has come as Rose has advanced WPP’s “Elevate28” strategy, a multi-year transformation plan designed to shift the company away from a traditional holding company model toward a more integrated structure. Under the plan, WPP has consolidated its operations into four core divisions: media, creative, production, and enterprise solutions.
Elevate28 has also included a target of £500 million in cost savings by 2028, alongside broader portfolio rationalisation efforts aimed at improving efficiency and unlocking value. The strategy has outlined a phased approach, focusing on stabilisation in 2026, building momentum in 2027, and delivering accelerated growth from 2028 onward.
