WPP COOs Mark Read and Andrew Scott "circulated a memo to staff in the network reassuring them in the foundations laid" by departed CEO Martin Sorrell and "denying that there is a hunger to break up what is the world's largest advertising company," according to John McCarthy of THE DRUM. Read and Scott addressed the rumor that the network "would be best served broken down into smaller parts." They said, "There's been speculation about breaking up the Group. We don't believe this makes sense. In a world where clients need faster, more agile, integrated solutions, we need to get closer together, not further apart." The pair said that they will have more to share on this "soon" but added, "WPP is a great business with outstanding people, world-class agencies and most of the world's leading companies as its clients and partners." Speaking in the aftermath of 33-year leader Sorrell's departure, which leaves a vacancy at the top, the pair issued a "universal admiration for Martin's achievements, and sadness about his departure" but added that there is "no shortage of confidence about the future" (THE DRUM, 4/19).
