Media economy
   
Homepage



Sir Martin: It's been
a rough year for us


WPP chief likens shape of the recovery to an L

Aug 26, 2009

Economists may think the worst is behind us in this recession, but media people continue to be less optimistic.

Earlier this week, Media Life published results of a reader poll finding that most respondents believe that recovery in the media economy won’t begin until second quarter 2010 or later.

Yesterday the head of the world’s biggest advertising group, Sir Martin Sorrell, seemed to agree that recovery is still a ways off.

Discussing WPP’s first-half results, which saw profits fall by nearly half, Sorrell told reporters that despite some big-ticket events in 2010, including the World Cup and Winter Olympics, he felt “cautious” about the possibility of recovery.

Sorrell said that the shape of the recovery will be “an L shape, and an italicized L,” according to the Times of London.

He sees particular issues in the United States.

“Where the question of a double-dip occurs, will maybe be at the back end of 2011, when governments, including in the U.S., begin to have to deal with their deficits,” he said. “The U.S. is only beginning to think about its budget deficit.”

The recovery also will be tough for WPP’s agencies, which include Mediaedge:cia, Grey Worldwide, Ogilvy and dozens more.

Sorrell said the parent company had cut nearly 7,000 jobs this year, about three times the amount it had predicted in March.

"Although it is still very early to budget or forecast what may happen in 2010, top-line revenues will probably be 'even Stephen', despite the positive impact of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the World Expo in Shanghai, the Asian Games in Guangzhou, the FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the mid-term congressional elections in the United States," Sorrell said.



Louisa Ada Seltzer is a staff writer for Media Life.




Latest headlines
Your client cutting up on the ice
Weak return for ABC's 'FlashForward'
Leno wins week two by smaller margin
Words and ideas: New York Magazine
'Life,' visually stunning as life itself
Message right under your feet: Go NFL!
It's official: Amanpour joins ABC News
Rachel, what do I do about this woman?

Jerry Buhlmann rises to CEO at Aegis Group
Sandy Kolkey becomes president at Draftfcb New York
Lane Soelberg and Christine Bensen join Moxie Interactive
Icaro Doria becomes group creative director at Goodby

Paula Abdul's new gig falls through
Jeff Zeleny, Matt Bai and Jim Rutenberg shift roles at NYT
Tony Sherman becomes director of product operations at LogicLab
Beau Bridges joins NBC's 'The Rockford Files'



© 2010 Media Life Privacy Statement