WPP Realigns Grey Under Ogilvy’s Leadership
The restructuring is part of WPP's broader strategy to simplify its organisational structure, improve operational efficiency, and provide clients with more integrated services across its network.
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WPP has announced a realignment of its creative agencies, positioning Grey Global Group under the leadership of Ogilvy. This move is intended to foster closer collaboration and enhance operational efficiency across the network.
Under this new structure, Grey will operate within the Ogilvy network while maintaining its separate brand identity. After this realignment, Laura Maness, Grey’s Global CEO, will report directly to Devika Bulchandani, Global CEO of Ogilvy.
This realignment shifts Grey’s previous reporting line from the AKQA Group, where it had been positioned since 2020. The decision is part of WPP CEO Mark Read’s ongoing efforts to simplify the company’s structure and improve operational efficiency. The aim is to encourage closer collaboration between agencies to better serve clients in an integrated marketing environment.
Grey is expected to continue functioning as a standalone agency brand with its existing leadership and client relationships. The realignment is intended to facilitate collaboration between Grey and Ogilvy, particularly in areas such as strategy, public relations, and CX, by utilising the respective capabilities of both agencies.
This change aligns Grey more closely with a network like Ogilvy that also emphasises creativity in addressing business challenges. Meanwhile, AKQA Group is expected to focus further on its strengths in innovation, design, and technology.
In addition, the realignment occurs during a period of structural adjustments at WPP, including leadership changes at AKQA and a restructuring of GroupM, WPP’s media investment arm, aimed at creating a more unified operating model. These actions reflect WPP’s focus on adapting its organisational structure to current conditions.
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