WPP Slashes Dividend and Announces Major AI-Driven Restructuring Amid Profit Slump

Advertising giant WPP has announced a significant strategic overhaul alongside a sharp reduction in its final dividend. The company slashed its dividend to 7.5 pence per share, down from 24.4 pence in the previous year, following a 23% decline in operating profit. CEO Cindy Rose detailed plans to consolidate the group's various agencies into a single entity integrated with AI and data technologies. This turnaround strategy aims to modernize the business structure and recover from recent financial setbacks. While the restructuring targets long-term efficiency, the massive dividend cut reflects immediate pressure on the company's cash flow. Investors are closely monitoring the execution of this consolidation in a challenging global advertising market.