WPP has taken first place in the 2017 Warc 100 ranking of the world’s top agency parent companies.
For the third successive year the Group was deemed to have delivered the best results for clients, as measured by the performance of its agencies and their campaigns in more than 80 effectiveness and marketing excellence competitions worldwide. Each of these competitions requires winners to have demonstrated the business impact of their work.
WPP agencies also occupied three of the top 10 places in the network of the year category: Ogilvy, J Walter Thompson and Grey.
The win means that WPP continues to hold the title of “holding company of the year” at three of the industry’s leading awards competitions: Cannes Lions, the Effies and Warc.
Warc is the publisher of respected industry journals including Admap, Market Leader and the Journal of Advertising Research, and provider of advertising best practice, evidence and insights from the world’s leading brands. The Warc 100 is an objective ranking of advertising and marketing campaigns that have worked, and uses methodology developed in consultation with King’s College London.
Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP, said: “At a time when questions are being raised about the effectiveness of certain marketing channels, it is more important than ever that we focus on the power of creativity and ideas to deliver tangible business results for our clients. The Warc 100 ranking shows we are doing exactly that. My thanks and congratulations to everyone in the Group who contributed to this success.”
Mike Waterson, Chairman and CEO of WARC, said: “To be named top holding company for the third consecutive year is an outstanding achievement. WARC 100 tracks campaigns that deliver real business value for clients. WPP’s third in a row top ranking reflects a consistent commitment to generating financial return for clients from superbly executed advertising and media investment, not as an exceptional event, but as a normal outcome.”
About WPP
WPP is the world’s largest communications services group with billings of US$74 billion and revenues of over US$19 billion. Through its operating companies, the Group provides a comprehensive range of advertising and marketing services including: advertising & media investment management; data investment management; public relations & public affairs; branding & identity; healthcare communications; direct, digital, promotion & relationship marketing; and specialist communications. The company employs over 205,000 people (including associates and investments) in over 3,000 offices across 112 countries. For more information, visit www.wpp.com.
WPP was named Holding Company of the Year at the 2016 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for the sixth year running. WPP was also named, for the fifth consecutive year, the World’s Most Effective Holding Company in the 2016 Effie Effectiveness Index, which recognises the effectiveness of marketing communications. In 2016 WPP was recognised by Warc 100 as the World’s Top Holding Company (second year running).
