British advertising giant WPP cuts diversity references from annual report
Source: The Guardian
Advertising giant WPP cuts diversity references from annual report
Owner of Ogilvy and Grey agencies follows other multinationals in dropping or downplaying DEI policies since Trump’s election
Simon Goodley
Sun 30 Mar 2025 17.32 BST
Last modified on Sun 30 Mar 2025 20.18 BST
The British advertising giant WPP has become the latest company to cut the phrase “diversity, equity and inclusion” from its annual report as the policies come under attack from the Trump administration.
The agency, which counts the US as by far its largest market, boasts the storied “Madison Avenue” agencies J Walter Thompson, Ogilvy and Grey among its top brands.
In WPP’s annual report, which was released on Friday, the chief executive, Mark Read, told shareholders that “much has changed over the last year” due to political events.
“In today’s complex world, a pressing question for brands and organisations is whether to engage on social issues in a more contested public arena, and how to navigate the expectations of different audiences with competing views on sensitive topics,” he wrote.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/mar/30/advertising-giant-wpp-cuts-diversity-section-from-annual-report
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