

News highlights
- WPP releases 2006 Interim Results
WPP published its half-year results for 2006, reporting revenues up over 16% to £2.86bn and billings up 27% £14.4bn. Like-for-like revenues increased 5% over the period
- WPP invests in online gaming, reputation management
WPP has invested in WildTangent, a leader in online gaming. It has also taken a stake in internet reputation experts Visible Technologies
- WPP partners for open source innovation
WPP is to partner Big Idea Group, a leader in open source product development, to help clients find, develop and monetise innovations through BIG's woldwide network of independent innovators
- Ogilvy strengthens in China
Ogilvy Group has acquired real-estate marketing specialist Black Arc. Headquartered in Shenzhen, BA has offices in Beijing, Hangzhou, Chengu and Chongqing. Ogilvy also renewed its joint venture with Shanghai Advertising for a further 15 years
- Dewey Square Group joins WPP
DSG, a specialist in grassroots advocacy, coalition building, public affairs and strategic marketing, has joined WPP. DSG has offices in Washington DC, Boston, Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Tampa

New business
- JWT is to provide creative, media placement and Hispanic marketing to the San Diego Ford Dealers Advertising Association. JWT now represents 85% of local Ford dealers across the US
- Travel operator Thomas Cook has appointed MindShare Germany to handle its media planning and buying
- Latino specialist WINGLATINO has won advertising, planning, creative and media duties for Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the US
- Grass Roots has been appointed by Disney to carry out a mystery shopping programme across their retail locations in the UK, France, Spain and Italy, part of a programme to raise the customer experience
- PCI Fitch has been appointed by British Airways to manage the airline's global marketing and internal events for three years

People
- WPP has appointed TB Song as WPP Chairman for Greater China. Song will help drive the Group's strategy in the region, improve relationships with government, attract and retain local talent and nurture local clients. Song retains his current role of Chairman, Ogilvy & Mather Greater China
- MindShare has hired Andy Farr as its global Head of Research and Development. Farr had previously been Chief Research Officer at Millward Brown
- Ogilvy & Mather Asia Pacific has bolstered its planning unit by promoting advertising effectiveness authority Tim Broadbent to Regional Planning Director, O&M Asia Pacific, replacing John Shaw who returns to London as UK Group Planning Director
- Senior US State Department official Robert Tappan has been named President of PR firm Burson-Marsteller's Washington DC office. Lawyer and human rights expert Eric Biel is to manage the agency's Corporate Responsibility practice

Awards
- Burson-Marsteller founding ChairmanHarold Burson has received the 2006 Alan Campbell-Johnson Medal for outstanding service to international public relations
- OgilvyOne Mexico won Gold in Amauta, Latin America's most important direct marketing and internet award for work for American Express
- Grey Bangladesh has been named Agency of the year for the third consecutive year at the prestigious Sangbad Pratidin Srijon Sanman Awards
- Addison Corporate Marketing client Deutsche Post AG scooped first place for corporate reporting from Manager Magazin
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Corporate Responsibility


WPP has published its third Corporate Responsibility Report, for 2005-2006. The report details the Group's approach and progress to marketing ethics, employment, environment and social investment

One of a number of high profile campaigns with a social or environmental dimension featured in the report was Fight Global Warming, created by Ogilvy & Mather New York for Environmental Defense and the Advertising Council to help combat global warming


Digit helped WaterAid celebrate World Water Day in March 2006 by devising a WaterShed, allowing visitors to the UK's Eden Project to interact with information about the importance of water in a playful way
For the diary

Henley Centre HeadlightVision is holding its annual conference in London on 22 September. The theme of this year's event is When World's Collide; topics include the growth of the virtual world and the complexity of demographic and geographic alliances
Contact Karen Kidson for details
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