"On top of everything else WPP is dealing with - company-wide rebrands, leadership turnover, shrinking revenue, major client losses, you name it - the agency holdco is also now being sued for allegedly retaliating against an executive-level employee. Even worse? It might have something to do with an alleged kickback operation. The $100 million lawsuit was filed by Richard Foster, who led Motion Content Group, WPP's content investment and rights management division, which produces "Love Island" and many other reality TV programs,"
"WPP's stance is that Foster was let go in July due to organizational restructuring. However, Foster claims he was targeted after bringing up concerns that the agency might be engaging in improper billing practices with "rebate-driven deals." According to the LA Times, Foster reportedly told one executive that "WPP and GroupM have 'been sleepwalking to the edge of a cliff and people don't want to hear it.'""
"The same is now true of Volta Media, the electric car-charging manufacturer that was also a programmatic sales house for digital out-of-home ads (via screens on its charging stations). Shell initially liked the ad revenue diversification, but Volta was still losing roughly $140 million per year as of early 2025. The time came that Shell was ready to wash its hands of the experiment. So in stepped Jolt, an Australian startup with the same business model (electric car-charging stations, plus advertising), but even more so."
WPP is being sued for alleged retaliation after an executive raised concerns about improper billing and rebate-driven deals. The $100 million lawsuit was filed by Richard Foster, former head of Motion Content Group, which produces "Love Island". WPP says Foster was let go due to organizational restructuring; Foster alleges he was targeted after raising billing concerns and said WPP and GroupM were 'sleepwalking to the edge of a cliff.' Volta Media, an electric car-charging and DOOH ad operator, lost about $140 million per year. Jolt, an Australian startup with large 75-inch screens, stepped in.
Read at AdExchanger
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