Shares surged 40.6 per cent to 27.2 pence as the company defied the challenging backdrop for advertising groups, but reported a fall in revenue. The company anticipates full year net revenue of roughly £664m, representing a like for like drop of 8.5 per cent. But operating profit is expected to jump 12 per cent to £75m, beating initial forecast and buoying the share price after it declined 18.5 per cent over the last twelve months after a succession of profit warnings.
Sir Martin Sorrell is Founder and Executive Chairman of S4 Capital plc, the tech led, new age / new era digital advertising and marketing services company for global, multinational, regional and local clients, and millennial-driven influencer brands. Sir Martin was Founder and CEO of WPP for 33 years, building it from a £1 million 'shell' company in 1985 into the world's largest advertising and marketing services company.
Sir Martin Sorrell criticized WPP's consolidation efforts as a "disgrace" and expressed doubts about the company's future under current leadership. He suggested that WPP might be beyond saving.