Opinion

Why the writing was on the wall for Mark Read at WPP. Tony Walford quoted in The Drum

Speculation over the CEO’s future had become an unwanted distraction at a time when the holding company is trying to rebuild around AI and its WPP Media proposition. As...

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This is the year of the indie agency. And 2026 will be the year of outstanding creativity. Tony Walford writes in The Drum

Holding company restructures and redundancies are producing a new wave of indie agencies. It’s only a matter of time until they herald a new era of creativity, says Green...

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S4 Capital at a crossroads: stability, struggles and strategic speculation. Tony Walford writes in The Drum

Will S4 Capital sell to a holding company competitor, go down the increasingly popular private equity route or just sit tight? Green Square’s Tony Walford looks at what the...

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Where WPP goes next after annus horribilis and flat (at best) 2025 revenue predictions. Tony Walford writes in The Drum

Green Square’s Tony Walford examines where things went wrong after the holding company’s 2024 results sent shares sliding. 2024 was something of an annus horribilis for WPP and Mark...

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R/GA going indie in PE deal is a sign of the times amid holding company shakeout. Barry Dudley writes in The Drum

R/GA has become an independent agency again after 23 years under IPG management. With backing from private equity firm Truelink, it plans to create a new model. Green Square’s...

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Will Technicolor’s demise be the start of a brave new world for creative production? Nick Berry writes in The Drum

The ad industry is reeling from the collapse of the visual effects giant and its advertising arm The Mill. Green Square partner Nick Berry examines how production is changing...

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Will its new three-year management plan be enough for Dentsu to regain competitiveness? Barry Dudley writes in The Drum

After a thumping $1.38bn goodwill write-off, the Japanese holding company presented a frank three-year plan to rebuild its international business. Green Square partner Barry Dudley assesses its chances of...

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How IPG weathered the storm of a tough 2024. Barry Dudley writes in The Drum

While all eyes are on its impending merger with Omnicom, IPG is still its own business – for now. Barry Dudley delves into its 2024 results to find out...

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The road ahead for advertising’s new big two – Publicis and Omnicom – in 2025. Barry Dudley writes in The Drum

As advertising’s leaders of the pack report similarly strong 2024 financials, Barry Dudley decodes their earnings calls and explains how their journeys will drastically diverge in 2025. Given its...

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Do the first large marketing M&A moves of 2025 indicate a trend for the year? Tony Walford writes in The Drum

From Getty acquiring Shutterstock to Bauer buying Clear Channel and Publicis bringing together Leo Burnett Global and Publicis Worldwide, it’s been a busy start to the year for M&A....

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