WPP reported PR and public affairs revenues climbed 8.8% in the first half of 2016 to $661.1M while revenues across the agency conglomerate saw a 5.2% rise to nearly $9.4B.
Despite the gains, profit plunged 43.9% to $609.5M over the same period of 2015 as the Martin Sorrell-led company took a large write-down on its comScore investment amid an accounting probe there and faced comparison to an extraordinary first half profit in 2015.
The results were better than expected and WPP raised its forecast for full-year revenue growth.
Coming out of the first half, WPP said all regions and sectors, except data investment management, were positive in July, and showed a "similar relative pattern to the first half," singling out advertising, media investment management, PR and public affairs and specialist communications as "up strongly."
The company said a plunge in Britain's pound sterling after the Brexit vote may have supported a recovery in that market.
Abandon traditional content plans focused on a linear buyer progression and instead embrace a consumer journey where no matter which direction they travel, they get what they need, stressed marketing pro Ashley Faus during O'Dwyer's webinar Apr. 2.
Freelance marketers and the companies that hire them are both satisfied with the current work arrangements they have and anticipate the volume of freelance opportunities to increase in the future, according to new data on the growing freelance marketing economy.
Home Depot's new attempt to occupy two market positions at once will require careful positioning strategy and execution to make it work.
Verizon snags Peloton Interactive chief marketing officer Leslie Berland as its new CMO, effective Jan. 9. Berland succeeds Diego Scotti, who left Verizon earlier this year. 
Norm de Greve, who has been CMO at CVS Health since 2015, is taking the top marketing job at General Motors, effective July 31.
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