WPP's new CEO is shaking up the ad giant's business model. Here are 3 key takeaways on what her overhaul means for staff.
Business Insider
February 26, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
WPP’s new CEO, Cindy Rose, has unveiled a sweeping turnaround plan aimed at addressing the company’s financial struggles and adapting to the challenges of AI disruption, intensifying competition, and cost-cutting clients. The ad giant is restructuring its operations into four key divisions—WPP Media, WPP Creative, WPP Production, and WPP Enterprise Solutions—to streamline its holding company model and eliminate redundancies. Rose’s strategy includes targeting $676 million in cost savings by 2028, with a focus on simplifying the organization, reducing duplication, and optimizing shared services like finance and HR. While most of these savings will be reinvested into high-growth areas such as talent development and AI-driven enterprise solutions, there are concerns about potential layoffs as the company navigates this transformation.
The shift toward unification aligns with industry trends, as competitors like Publicis and Omnicom have also consolidated their operations to offer clients a more cohesive and simpler service model. WPP’s new structure aims to better integrate its creative, media, production, and AI capabilities under one umbrella, positioning the company to help clients navigate their own AI transformations through a new enterprise solutions division. This move reflects the growing demand for strategic consulting services in an era where advertising alone is no longer sufficient to drive growth.
For WPP’s 98,000 employees, the coming months will likely be challenging as the company undergoes significant changes. Rose acknowledged that transformation can be anxiety-inducing, but emphasized that the plan will be executed efficiently within 18 months to minimize disruption. While cost-cutting measures are necessary, the focus will also be on reinvesting savings into high-growth areas and upskilling employees to meet future demands. The company’s pivot toward AI and enterprise solutions highlights its efforts to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry where traditional advertising is being commoditized.
This overhaul matters to readers interested in business because it underscores the broader challenges facing the advertising industry, particularly the growing influence of AI and the shift toward more strategic, technology-driven services. WPP’s ability to successfully execute its turnaround strategy will not only impact its own future but also set a precedent for how other ad
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Originally published on Business Insider on 2/26/2026