WPP ushers in a new era with global rebrand of GroupM to WPP Media

A new era for the world’s largest media investment group has officially arrived, with WPP retiring the GroupM name and launching WPP Media, a fully integrated, AI-powered media company designed for the next wave of marketing.

The move is part of a broader effort to deliver more integrated, AI-enabled solutions to the world’s largest advertisers. With more than US$60 billion in annual media investment under management and clients across 80 markets, WPP Media consolidates the group’s media, data and production capabilities under a single, AI-driven operating model.

Mindshare, Wavemaker and EssenceMediacom will continue to exist as agency brands within WPP Media, working closely with clients through dedicated teams. However, those teams will now operate on a shared infrastructure, connected by WPP Open - WPP’s proprietary AI-powered marketing platform that the company says is backed by an annual £300 million investment and strategic partnerships with leading AI firms.

SEE MORE: GroupM reportedly to be rebranded into WPP Media

“Consumers already expect advertising to be relevant and engaging and buying experiences to be seamless; those expectations are only going to accelerate in the age of AI,” Brian Lesser, CEO of WPP Media said.

“WPP Media is built for a world in which media is everywhere and in everything. By investing in our AI-powered product, integrating our offer with data and technology, and equipping our people with future-facing skills, we’re helping our clients to stay ahead of rapidly changing consumer behavior and unlock the limitless opportunities for growth that AI will create.”

The launch of WPP Media underscores a broader transformation at WPP, aimed at simplifying the company’s offer while aligning more closely with how clients want to work. WPP CEO Mark Read said the rebrand is a reflection of today’s marketing environment, which demands integrated solutions that combine creativity, technology, data and media under one roof.

“We believe that WPP is the strongest marketing partner for the world’s leading brands in the AI era, where technology and talent converge,” Read said. “The move to WPP Media continues our strategy to simplify and integrate our offer for clients. While GroupM was built for a time when media scale mattered most, WPP Media reflects the power of AI, data and technology and simpler, more integrated solutions.

“Our vision for the future is clear – marketing that is informed by data, led by seamlessly connected teams of brilliant people, and full of new opportunities for our clients.”

The company said WPP Media is designed to allow clients to unify their owned, earned, shared and paid activities with analytics, connected commerce and integrated production built into the core offering. It also includes a renewed focus on career pathways and future-facing skills for staff, with training investments aimed at preparing talent for the next generation of marketing.

WPP’s repositioning of its media business follows an intense period of change in the global agency landscape, as consultancies, platforms and holding groups increasingly blur the lines between creative, technology, and media. It also reflects a wider shift away from the holding company era of siloed agency brands and toward a more centralised, product-led model for marketing delivery.