WPP Restructures, Aims for £500 Million Savings

WPP, under new CEO Cindy Rose, has launched an 18-month restructuring plan named Elevate28, aiming to achieve £500 million in savings by 2028. This initiative follows a period of decline for the advertising company, marked by profit warnings, loss of key clients like Coca-Cola and Mars, and a drop from the FTSE 100 index. The restructure involves dismantling the current holding-company structure and reorganizing WPP into four distinct units: creative, media, production, and enterprise solutions.

The plan is projected to cost approximately £400 million and is expected to lead to further job cuts by the end of the year. Marie-Claire Barker, WPP's chief people officer for performance and culture, is central to implementing the new strategy, focusing on improving employee performance and increasing AI adoption. To support these changes, WPP has split its top HR role. Mark Taylor joined from the Lego Group as global chief people officer, with a remit focused on the structural transformation, while Barker will concentrate on enabling the changes and fostering different working methods.

This restructuring represents the latest upheaval for WPP employees, who have already experienced significant headcount reductions. The company's workforce decreased from 108,044 in 2024 to 98,655 by the end of 2025. Previous internal unrest was also fueled by a mandatory return-to-office policy, with a petition from employees opposing the requirement to be in the office at least four days a week gaining traction. The success of the Elevate28 plan hinges not only on financial targets but also on winning over the workforce and adapting to new operational models.