Group M officially rebrands to WPP Media

Group M has officially rebranded as WPP Media and is now describing itself as an “AI-driven media company”.

Campaign first reported on the move to rename the media investment arm in early May. At the time, a spokesperson said that WPP doesn’t “comment on speculation”.

Of the rebrand, Mark Read, chief executive at WPP, said that while “Group M 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”.

Mindshare, Wavemaker and EssenceMediacom are set to continue to provide clients with dedicated teams as brands within WPP Media.

Despite media agencies continuing to operate as distinct brands within WPP Media, Group M told staff earlier this month that these brands will move to a single P&L and act as "one voice in the market", with agency-specific titles set to "sunset".

Earlier this month, Campaign Asia-Pacific reported a wave of leadership redundancies in Indonesia, alongside the appointment of former Danone marketer Sri Widowati as the market’s new CEO. Just last week, the company’s media operations arm informed UK staff about roles at risk of redundancy. Last week, the media operating arm told staff which roles would be at risk of redundancy in the UK.

The latest move comes after Brian Lesser, chief executive of WPP Media, told investors in March 2025 that WPP “[knows] that we have to be simpler” and laid out a five-point plan which included a shift to focus on an AI-based data strategy. 

Lesser added: “By investing in our AI-powered product (WPP Open), 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 behaviour and unlock the limitless opportunities for growth that AI will create.”

Lesser has made a series of changes to streamline the business since joining in September 2024, when he replaced Christian Juhl.

For instance, he axed global agency brand chief executive roles for media agencies EssenceMediacom, Mindshare and Wavemaker in a bid to further centralise operations.

Group M EMEA chief executive Josh Krichefski left the business in March, after 14 years. Its leaders in key markets, including the UK, now report directly to Lesser.

Nick Lawson, former global chief executive of EssenceMediacom, left prior to Krichefski in December 2024. In his place, Frances Ralston-Good, former global chief operating officer at EssenceMediacom, was left to oversee his responsibilities, but also left in March 2025.

WPP Media manages more than $60 billion in annual media investment.