WPP 2008 Interim results, Neal Prescott CEO of Deliver, The Branding Bubble

	No. 115 - September 2008 www.wpp.com

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News highlights

WPP 2008 Interim Results

Billings up almost 12% at £16.9 billion
Revenue up over 14% to £3.339 billion
Like-for-like revenue up over 4%
Headline operating profit up over 18% to £453 million
Headline operating margin up 0.5 margin points to 13.6%
Headline profit before tax up over 15% to £389 million
Profit before tax up over 15% to £339 million
Diluted headline earnings per share up over 21% at 22.1p
Billings up almost 12% at £16.9 billion
Interim ordinary dividend up 20% to 5.19p per share

Wunderman acquires digital agency, Actis, in Russia

Wunderman has bolstered its position in Russia with the acquisition of Actis, a full-spectrum digital service offering. The Moscow-based shop has completed over 700 commercial Internet projects in 26 countries for clients such as Microsoft, Canon, MTV and VimpelCom. Actis Systems employs more than 120 professionals in digital services, making it one of the largest purely digital agencies in the region. Actis Systems has been recognised for its work by both the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival and London International Awards.

Ogilvy acquires stake in Yunes, activation agency in Argentina

Ogilvy has acquired a majority stake in Yunes, SMA, a leading activation agency in Argentina. Founded in 1999, Yunes is based in Cordoba, with offices in Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Rosario and employs 90 people. Clients include American Express, Banco de Cordoba, Coca-Cola, Jumbo and Volkswagen.
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New offers

WPP establishes global digital production capability, Deliver

WPP Digital is establishing a global digital production capability, called Deliver, to distribute work among the Group's stable of digital agencies to ensure that clients get the best solutions at the best price. Neal Prescott will be the new unit CEO.

Advertures agency joins Ogilvy & Mather in Czech Republic

Advertures agency, a leading specialist in on-line marketing in the Czech Republic, has become part of Ogilvy & Mather following the group's acquisition of a majority of the agency's shares. The agency will now operate under the name Mather Advertures. Advertures, established in 2001, specialises in internet campaigns for clients including the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vodafone, Czech Airlines/Click4Sky, TescoStores CZ, Nokia and SUN Microsystems.

Bates141 takes majority stake in Singapore creative hot shop, 10AM Communications

Bates141 has taken a majority stake in distinguished creative agency, 10AM Communications, in Singapore.
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New business

The Brand Union wins TELKOM

The Chicago Blackhawks name Ogilvy Chicago as agency of record
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Awards, Winners, Movers & Shakers

Stephen Allan named Chairman & CEO of MediaCom Worldwide and Nick Theakstone appointed CEO of GroupM UK

Marcus Rebeschini named Chief Creative Officer, Y&R Asia

VBAT wins prestigious international Red Dot Award
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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.

The Brand Bubble: The Looming Crisis in Brand Value and How to Avoid It
by John Gerzema and Ed LeBar
Drawing on a detailed analysis of a decade's worth of brand and financial data from Young and Rubicam's BrandAsset® Valuator, the largest brand database in the world, authors John Gerzema and Ed Lebar lay out credible evidence that business thinks brands are worth more than the consumers who buy them. Given that one third of all shareholder value is brand value, this growing disconnect should be of urgent concern to CEOs, marketers, analysts and investors. The Brand Bubble provides both analysis and solution.
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Mediaedge:cia launches new research study - MediaZ
Mediaedge:cia (MEC) has launched the first report from its major new research study, MediaZ. The study, among 4,000 consumers, measures awareness, passion and engagement with more than 180 UK media properties, across press (national and regional newspapers, consumer and customer magazines), TV (channels and shows), outdoor, cinema, radio, digital (newspaper websites, social networking sites, search engines), platforms and emerging media. Contact Vicky Beaney / Claire Burgess +44 (0) 20 7927 9999.
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Work in Progress: Travel
by JWT
There may be a global economic slowdown, but the UN's World Tourism Organization reports positive tourism growth so far in 2008, and steady growth is expected through to 2020. Today's tourists and the businesses that serve them, however, are reshaping traditional concepts of what constitutes a vacation. Whether it's by experiencing new cultures or landscapes, eating well, engaging in physical challenges, attending to medical issues or just meditating, travellers increasingly want to return from vacation a truly better person physically, mentally and/or spiritually.