Slow Growth for WPP Insight Revenue

WPP's Consumer Insight division has reported a meagre 2.3% rise in like-for-like revenue (1.3% actual) for the first half of the year, following slower growth in the US, the UK and Japan in the second quarter. However, pre-tax profits rose 37% to £334.3m.

Revenues in Latin America showed 'particularly strong' growth in the second quarter, the Group said, followed by Asia Pacific and Africa.

The Consumer Insight arm - which includes agencies TNS, Millward Brown, Added Value, Cymfony, Compete, Kantar, Lightspeed Research and IMRB - accounted for 47% of group revenues; as yet below the group's strategic objective of 'more than one-half'.

During the first six months of 2011, gross margin was up 3.2% like-for-like. Headline profit before tax increased 5.9% to £88.7m.

CEO Sir Martin Sorrell (pictured) said in a statement: 'Even as economic stress levels increase and intensify, the group's strategic focus on new markets, new media and consumer insight, along with the application of technology and data analytics will become even more important. Clients will be increasingly looking for growth, advice and resources in digital communications and in understanding consumer motivations and changing media consumption habits. WPP is ideally placed to deliver.'

Web site: www.wpp.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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