WPP Media returns to growth in Q3. WPP as a whole still shrinks 2.1%

WPP’s media arm grew again from July to September, according to the WPP Q3 2026 trading update published on 29 October. WPP Media’s revenue less pass-through costs rose 0.3% like-for-like. The group as a whole fell 2.1% on the same measure, to £2.41bn.

Revenue less pass-through costs strips out money that only passes through the agency, such as media bought for clients. Total revenue, including that money, was £3.27bn, up 0.5% like-for-like.

WPP Creative fell 5.1% while WPP Production grew 2.5%

WPP now reports three units. Besides media, WPP Production grew 2.5%. WPP Creative, which holds the creative agencies, shrank 5.1%. Tyler Turnbull, who moved from McCann to run WPP Creative, was named its chief executive, the update said.

Every region declined. North America fell 1.8%, Europe, the Middle East and Africa 1.7%, Asia-Pacific 4.3% and Latin America 1.2%. Revenue from the 25 biggest clients fell 2.7%, after a 3.2% drop in the second quarter. Spending from consumer goods, tech and retail clients was still falling. Car makers and healthcare firms spent more.

Coca-Cola, Uber and Nestlé among WPP’s new business

WPP listed The Coca-Cola Company as a win. WPP is its global media partner outside North America, Japan and South Korea. Coca-Cola’s North American media went to Omnicom. Other wins or retentions named were DoorDash, Nestlé, Uber and Waymo.

Chief executive Cindy Rose said: “We are on track to deliver phase one of Elevate28”. Elevate28 is WPP’s turnaround plan. The full-year forecast did not change. WPP expects revenue less pass-through costs to fall by a low to mid single-digit percentage in the second half. It sees a headline operating margin of 12% to 13% for the year.

Omnicom media grew more than 10%, Publicis 5%

Rival groups reported stronger numbers for the same quarter. Omnicom said its media revenue grew more than 10%. Publicis grew 5% organically.

WPP said the fourth quarter should come in towards the better end of its forecast range. Will WPP Media keep growing? The full-year results, which WPP usually publishes in late February, will answer that.