NEWS29 August 2013
UK — WPP’s data investment management division saw revenue grow by 2.1% in the second quarter according to its latest figures.
Formerly the consumer insight segment of WPP, the data investment management division saw revenues of £651m for Q2 2013 compared with £622m in Q2 2012 while first half 2013 revenues came in at £1.24bn, up 2.3% on a constant basis with H1 2012.
The company, headed by Martin Sorrell (pictured), said that, as in the first quarter, all regions except the UK and Western Europe saw growth in Q2 with a “significant improvement” in North America with like-for-like revenues up almost 5% in the second quarter.
The faster growing markets of Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa and Middle East maintained the strong growth seen in the first quarter, albeit at a slightly lower rate, with like-for-like revenues up 7%.
WPP said the customer research business in TNS and Millward Brown, together with call centre operations, performed particular well in the US and added: “Reported operating margins improved 0.5 margin points to 7.5% partly reflecting the improved performance in North America, the faster growing markets and a minor impact of restructuring.”
As a whole, WPP saw billings increase by 5% to £22.7bn with revenue growth at 7.1% to over £5.3bn.
Commenting on the announced merger between Publicis and Omnicom, the report said: “Whilst we have consistently predicted further consolidation in our industry, it is true to say that the scale of the latest move caught us by surprise, at least before 18 July, although whether such a move, if implemented, proves to be successful remains to be seen.”