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News Highlights

WPP 2009 Interim Results

Billings up over 11% at £18.742 billion
Revenue up over 28% to £4.289 billion
Like-for-like revenue down over 8%
Headline operating profit down over 24% to £342 million
Headline profit before tax down over 35% to £252 million
Profit before tax down 47% to £179 million
Diluted headline earnings per share down almost 41% at 12.9p
First interim ordinary dividend flat at 5.19p per share

VML, OgilvyInteractive and Wunderman cited as leaders in independent report on US interactive agencies

VML, OgilvyInteractive and Wunderman have been identified as a Leader in the Forrester WaveTM: US Interactive Agencies - Strategy and Execution, Q3 2009.

The independent report, administered and written by Forrester Research Inc. analysts, assessed the state of the interactive agency market to see how the top US digital agencies compare.

The report evaluates the strategy and execution capabilities of the top 11 digital agencies against 39 criteria. On this basis, VML, OgilvyInteractive and Wunderman were each recognised as a Leader.

New Offers

Ferguson launches OTC Center of Excellence

Ferguson, the founding professional agency of WPP company CommonHealth, has launched the Ferguson OTC (over-the-counter) Center of Excellence, a new initiative designed to address the rapid increase of promotion and use of OTC drugs.

Within Ferguson, the Center of Excellence will focus on the marketing of prescription-to- OTC switches and the promotion of OTC brands to healthcare practitioners.

Sudler & Hennessey establishes presence in Moscow

Sudler & Hennessey has partnered with AG Loyalty Moscow to establish a presence within the Russian Federation.

This addition further expands the S&H network and reach into the regions fastest growing market, with increasing market access needs. The S&H Moscow office provides a full complement of market development services specializing in pharmaceutical, PR, and social programs.

Established in 2003, the staff of 25 employees focuses on building brand loyalty through customer relationship marketing, and using event and promotional tools to forge links with partners and existing or future clients.

Contact: Irina_Volkhonskaya@mos.yr.com

New Business

OgilvyOne UK wins BT

JWT Delhi wins Sony Walkman

Mediaedge:cia Norway wins Red Bull

Winners, Movers & Shakers

FITCHLive takes first place in Marketing magazine's experiential agencies list

Gloria Gibbons and Donna Tuths appointed Joint Worldwide CEOs of Ogilvy Healthworld

New Business Enquiries

Are you looking for an advertising or marketing services partner? WPP can help point you in the right direction - find out how.

JWT's Work in Progress: The Now Web

A new Web is emerging, one characterized by constantly updating streams of real-time information, conversation, memos and images. This real-time Web has given rise to an increasing mass culture - people around the globe are experiencing events together, using the Web to rally like-minded people, spreading Internet memes and sometimes rumours rapidly. As the stream of information that people consume, produce and share online flows ever faster, they will increasingly expect brands to be along for the ride: by meeting their expectations now, by answering complaints and questions now, and by simply joining in the ongoing dialogue. Given the growing influence of these streams, brands must understand what the Now Web is about.

BMRB's TGI publishes new SME study

As businesses seek new revenue streams to trade their way out of the recession, TGI has launched a UK survey that explains the culture of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).

In a break from traditional consumer research, TGI has teamed up with SME think tank CultureMap to launch the first ever SME profiling tool, the Business Culture Index (BCI).

Representing 99% of UK firms, 56% of its workforce and 52% of its turnover, SMEs remain a key and lucrative market, yet one that has hitherto been traditionally light on real insight into what makes it tick.

Whilst SMEs are looking to cut their cloth accordingly to suit the prevailing economic climate, there is a rare window for under-pressure brands to put themselves in front of an engaged audience willing to spend, at a time when individual consumers are not.

Contact: Daniel.Flynn@bmrb.co.uk

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