The rise and fall of WPP

William Phillips

The story of the rise and (as it now seems) fall of Martin Sorrell and WPP - to be continued next month.

Ad Finitum: WPP and the death of a sector

"In just 18 months..."

William Phillips

As the standard bearer for British supremacy in "marketing services", Martin Sorrell's WPP stood in apostolic succession to Saatchi & Saatchi. Sorrell had been the financial brain behind the brothers' daring deals. He had learned from their mistakes: no adman playing tycoon, he was a business school hustler who let creative types get on with their work while gently herding them into a world-wide conglomerate. Sorrell understood cash flow and shunned the wilder shores of ambition - management consulting, High Street banks - where Charles...

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