WPP

WPP is selling a 60-per-cent share in its market-research company Kantar to Bain Capital Private Equity in a deal that values the company at $4bn (£3.2bn/ €3.55bn).

Advertising and public relations giant WPP has today (Monday) agreed to sell its minority shareholding in sports, entertainment and communications group Chime to the company’s majority shareholder, US p…

ESP Properties was launched in June 2015 as WPP’s attempt to create a sports marketing major to challenge the likes of IMG. Last year, its UK team was absorbed by its Two Circles division. In July 2018, its US operations were sold off. GroupM, the WPP subsidiary which created ESP, doesn’t see this as a failure or retrenchment. Some rivals and independent sponsorship experts have a different view.

Sir Martin Sorrell has resigned as chief executive of WPP, as the advertising and public relations giant prepares to reveal the findings of an investigation into alleged personal misconduct.

Giants are emerging in the sports marketing landscape with multi-billion dollar agencies coming to the fore. Frank Dunne looks at how the arrival of the newly merged forces has affected the balance of power in the sports industry.

UK marketing services group Chime Communications has revealed it has reached an agreement regarding its sale to US private equity investment firm Providence Equity and advertising and public relations giant WPP.

UK marketing services group Chime Communications, which includes the CSM Sport & Entertainment agency, has confirmed it is in talks over a buyout with US private equity investment firm Providence Equity and advertising and public relations giant WPP.

When I interviewed WPP’s ebullient chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell a couple of years ago, the head of the world’s biggest advertising group was keen to give a positive perspective on the sprawling operation’s relationship with sport.

Late last month industry veteran John Kristick saw four years of hard work come to fruition when ESP Properties, WPP’s new sports vehicle, fired a shot across the bows at established players in the agency space. He spoke to Matt Cutler.

Advertising and public relations giant WPP is launching a new sports marketing agency through GroupM, its global media investment management company.

British multinational advertising and public relations company WPP has said it is leading a syndicate investing $250m (€202m) in Bruin Sports Capital – a new global sports marketing firm being launched by former IMG Worldwide president George Pyne.

Sir Martin, leader of the world's largest advertising and marketing services company tells Kevin Roberts why the fortunes of his business and many other global brands are inextricably linked to sport.