REG - WPP PLC - Annual Report 2023 and AGM Notice

WPPAnnouncement

21/03/2024 16:30

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RNS Number : 8500H  WPP PLC  21 March 2024

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  21 March 2024

 

WPP PLC ("WPP" or "the Company")

 

Publication of Annual Report 2023, Sustainability Report and 2024 Notice of
Annual General Meeting

WPP has today published on its website its Annual Report for the year ended 31
December 2023 ('Annual Report 2023', https://www.wpp.com/annualreport2023
(https://www.wpp.com/annualreport2023) ) together with its Sustainability
Report. WPP has also today published its 2024 Notice of Annual General Meeting
(the '2024 AGM Notice',
www.wpp.com/investors/shareholder-centre/shareholder-meetings
(http://www.wpp.com/investors/shareholder-centre/shareholder-meetings) ),
which will be distributed to shareholders shortly.

 

The Company's AGM will be held on 8 May 2024 at 11.00am at Rose Court, 2
Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HS, with facilities to follow the business
of the AGM virtually.

In compliance with 9.6.1 of the Listing Rules, copies of the Annual Report
2023 and 2024 AGM Notice will be submitted to the UK Listing Authority and
will shortly be available for inspection at the National Storage Mechanism
https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism
(https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism) .

A hard copy version of the Annual Report 2023 will be sent to those
shareholders who have elected to receive paper communications on or about 4
April 2024.

The information included in the unaudited preliminary results announcement
released on 22 February 2024, together with the information in the Appendices
to this announcement which is extracted from the Annual Report 2023,
constitute the materials required by the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and
Transparency Rule 6.3.5R. This announcement is not a substitute for reading
the Annual Report 2023 in full. Page and note references in the Appendices
below refer to page and note references in the Annual Report 2023.

 

Balbir Kelly-Bisla

Company Secretary

 

Further information

 Chris Wade, WPP           +44 (0)20 7282 4600

 Richard Oldworth,         +44 (0)20 7466 5000

 Buchanan Communications

 

About WPP

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to
build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more
information, visit www.wpp.com (http://www.wpp.com/) .

 

 

APPENDIX A: PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

 

The Board has carried out a robust assessment of the principal risks and
uncertainties affecting the Group and the markets we operate in and strategic
decisions taken by the Board as at 31 December 2023 and up to the date of this
report - including any adverse effects of the geopolitical situation resulting
from the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza - which are described in the table on
the following pages.

ECONOMIC RISK

Risk definition

Adverse economic conditions, including those caused by the conflicts in
Ukraine and Gaza, severe and sustained inflation in key markets where we
operate, supply chain issues including around resilience affecting the
distribution of our clients' products and/or disruption in credit markets,
pose a risk our clients may reduce, suspend or cancel spend with us or be
unable to satisfy obligations.

Potential impact

Economic conditions, including inflation and increasing interest rates, among
others, have a direct impact on our business, results of operations and
financial position.

In the past, clients have responded to weak economic and financial conditions
by reducing or shifting their marketing budgets which are easier to reduce in
the short term than their other operating expenses.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

Our account teams work proactively with our clients to understand the
challenges they are facing, determine general trends in marketing spend and
develop plans in advance to help us prepare, redeploy resources and manage
costs accordingly.

Our crisis management and business resilience team works with our networks to
identify priority services and the key dependencies they rely on and develops
market-specific incident response and service continuity plans to best ensure
business operations are resilient to external factors.

Our client portfolio is diverse, consisting of organisations operating in
different industry sectors and across a broad geographical spread which
further helps mitigate the impact of any specific challenges individual
clients or markets might be facing.

GEOPOLITICAL RISK

Risk definition

Growing geopolitical tension and conflicts continue to have a destabilising
effect in our markets and across geographical regions. This rise in
geopolitical activity continues to have an adverse effect upon the economic
outlook, the general erosion of trust and an increasing trend of national
ideology and regional convergence over global cooperation and integration.
Such factors and economic conditions may be reflected in our clients'
confidence in making longer-term investments and commitments in marketing
spend.

Potential impact

Actual or threatened geopolitical tension and conflicts lead to greater
uncertainty, economic instability and a general lack of confidence for many of
our clients who are inclined to scale back, delay or cancel their marketing
plans and budgets.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

We work closely with our in-country teams, third-party advisors, clients and
other agencies in monitoring the level and nature of geopolitical issues,
events and developments across all markets and regions.

Our primary focus is the safety and security of our people, and for extreme
events or periods of disruption we have developed a series of crisis and
response plans with clear lines of escalation to the Board and Executive
Committee that focus upon the wellbeing of our people and their families.

We have detailed operational and financial plans, developed through the
consideration of a range of potential scenarios and outcomes that are
continuously monitored and, if required, used to make interventions and
support decision-making over our operations, investments and advice to
clients.

PANDEMIC

Risk definition

The impact of a pandemic on our business will depend on numerous factors that
we are not able to accurately predict, including the duration and scope of a
pandemic, any existing or new variants, government actions to mitigate the
effects of a pandemic and the continuing and long-term impact of a pandemic on
our clients' spending plans.

Potential impact

A pandemic and any new variants and the measures to contain its spread may
have an adverse effect on our business, revenues, results of operations and
financial condition and prospects.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

A strong balance sheet, supported further by action to maintain liquidity
including, if needed, the suspension of share buybacks, dividends and
acquisitions, cost reduction and cash conservation measures, savings on
property and IT capex.

Constant monitoring of working capital position and detailed operational and
financial plans, developed from previous experience and, as noted above,
continuously assessed against potential scenarios and outcomes.

STRATEGIC PLAN

Risk definition

The failure to successfully complete the strategic plan updated in January
2024 to lead through AI, data and technology, to accelerate growth through the
power of creative transformation, to build world-class, market-leading brands
and to execute efficiently to drive financial returns through margin and cash.

Potential impact

A failure or delay in implementing or realising the benefits from the
strategic plan may have a material adverse effect on our market share and our
business, revenues, results of operations, financial condition or prospects.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

Board oversight of the implementation of the strategic plan and Group
simplification and regular briefings on the Group's response to economic and
geopolitical risks.

The Executive Committee regularly reviews progress against the strategic plan
and actions required to deliver against the plan and convenes regularly to
discuss the Group's response to and implementation of the measures highlighted
above to mitigate the impact of economic and geopolitical risks on the Group's
operations, people, clients and financial condition.

The focus on managing cost and changes in ways of working have accelerated
aspects of the strategic plan as we continue to move towards a simplified
company structure and enhanced use of technology, including generative AI, by
our people.

GENERATIVE AI STRATEGY

Risk definition

Delayed adoption and leverage of the opportunities and commercial models
offered by generative AI in the services WPP provides to its clients, as well
as the overall operation of the business.

WPP may incur costs when ensuring it can comply with the introduction of
artificial intelligence laws and regulations, including the EU AI Act. This
will be through review of IT systems and processes, which may require
refinement or amendment, to ensure regulation can be adhered to.

IP laws and in particular the analysis of copyright infringement is evolving
in generative AI. Where AI is used in client deliverables, IP infringement
risk, in particular copyright infringement risk, must be assessed in the
context of the underlying data sets used in the creation of client works.

Potential impact

Without the automation and efficiency gains offered by generative AI, we may
experience increased costs and inefficiencies in our operations impacting
profitability and competitiveness.

Clients will increasingly expect us to use generative AI-driven tools and
technologies in our services and deliverables. If we fail to adopt generative
AI at pace and evolve our commercial model, we may struggle to keep up with
these demands, leading to decreased relevance and effectiveness of our
services and deliverables for clients, and allow an opportunity for AI vendors
to contract directly with our clients.

Falling behind competitors leveraging the opportunities generative AI offers
to gain a competitive advantage could result in lost market share, decreased
revenue and reduced profitability.

We may struggle to attract and retain talent, further hindering our ability to
innovate and compete.

Generated materials may infringe third-party IP resulting in legal costs and
client reputation impact.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

The Chief AI Officer is responsible for the strategic direction of generative
AI in the business.

We have established a Generative AI Governance Committee which oversees the
application and adoption of and risks associated with generative AI across
WPP. This committee includes the CEO, CTO and Chief Privacy Officer and other
senior stakeholders in the business with responsibility for the safe and
responsible use of generative AI within the Group.

We have developed and continue to invest in a WPP generative AI platform using
market-leading technologies which is available to all staff in order to
support our work and deliverables both internally and for clients.

We have established partnerships with leading generative AI platforms,
technologies and companies, including NVIDIA.

We actively monitor the changing regulatory landscape and the introduction of
new laws regulating AI to assess the impact on our business and work,
including detailed review of the EU AI Act and evolving IP laws (including
copyright), and how they will impact how we service our clients.

We have a comprehensive due diligence process in place to review the
third-party generative AI tools/platforms used in the business. This process
considers the use case for the tool/platform and includes reviews of the
security, legal and technology aspects of the tool/platform as well as sources
of underlying learning data, where applicable, to develop a 'traffic light'
approach to risk.

Whilst AI provides many opportunities (including efficiencies and new services
and offerings) we also continue to review and consider the impact around our
business model through the Generative AI Governance Committee, reporting to
the Board and Audit Committee on identified risks and impacts.

IT AND SYSTEMS

Risk definition

We continue to undertake a series of IT programmes devised to prioritise the
most critical changes necessary to support the Group's strategic plan whilst
maintaining the operational performance and security of core systems.

The Group is reliant on third parties for the performance of a significant
portion of our worldwide information technology and operations functions.

A failure to provide these functions could have an adverse effect on our
business.

Potential impact

Any failure or delay in implementing the IT programmes may have a material
adverse effect upon the overall strategic plan and the realisation of key
targeted benefits and savings.

Disruption and unavailability of critical systems may lead to disruption in
our operations and client service delivery.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

The Board and management team provide oversight and governance of the most
important IT and systems change initiatives the business is pursuing.

Detailed plans have been prepared for each major systems initiative and
overall progress, challenges and risks are monitored as part of our project
management processes and discussed in dedicated steering committees who also
agree upon any corrective action that may be required, including around
supplier resilience.

Progress reports are also completed as part of regular briefings that the
Board receives on the overall implementation of the strategic plan.

CLIENT LOSS

Risk definition

We compete for clients in a highly competitive industry which is continuously
evolving and undergoing structural change and advancements in AI, data and
technology. Client net loss to competitors or as a consequence of client
consolidation, insolvency or a reduction in marketing budgets due to a
geopolitical change or shift in client spending, would have a material adverse
effect on our market share, business, revenues, results of operations,
financial condition and prospects.

Potential impact

The competitive landscape in our industry is constantly evolving and the role
of more traditional services and operators in our sector who have not
successfully diversified is being challenged. Competitors include
multinational advertising and marketing communication groups, marketing
services companies, database marketing information and measurement and
professional services, and consultants and consulting internet companies.

Client contracts can generally be terminated on 90 days' notice or are on an
assignment basis and clients put their business up for competitive review from
time to time.

The ability to attract new clients and to retain or increase the amount of
work from existing clients may be impacted if we fail to react quickly enough
to changes in the market and to evolve our structure, as a consequence of any
loss of reputation, and may be limited by clients' policies on conflicts of
interest.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

The strategic plan updated in January 2024 places emphasis on leading through
AI, data and technology, accelerating growth through the power of creative
transformation, building world- class, market-leading brands and executing
efficiently to drive financial returns through margin and cash.

The plan is also delivering a continued simplification of our organisational
structure by reducing the number of legal entities in the Group, the disposal
of non-core minority holdings and more collaborative working through the
opening of further campus co-locations (see page 19).

The Board is focused on the importance of a positive and inclusive culture
across our business to attract and retain talent and clients. Accordingly,
work continues on diversity and inclusion across the Group, including focus
from the work of the global WPP Inclusion Council.

Continuous improvement of our creative capability and reputation of our
businesses. The development and implementation of senior leadership incentives
to align more closely with our strategy and performance.

Business review at every Board, Executive Committee and network management
meeting to identify client loss. Monthly updates to the executive management
team on the status of the Group's major clients and upcoming pitches for
potential new clients.

Continuous engagement with our clients and suppliers through this period of
uncertainty and reduction in economic activity.

CLIENT CONCENTRATION

Risk definition

We receive a significant portion of our revenues from a limited number of
large clients and the net loss of one or more of these clients or of a major
assignment with them could have a material adverse effect on our prospects,
business, financial condition and results of operations.

Potential impact

A relatively small number of clients contribute a significant percentage of
our consolidated revenues. Our ten largest clients accounted for 18.9% of
revenue less pass-through costs in the year ended 31 December 2023.

Clients can reduce their marketing spend, terminate contracts or cancel
projects on short notice. The loss of one or more of our largest clients or of
a major assignment with them, if not replaced by new accounts or an increase
in business from existing clients, would adversely affect our financial
condition.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

Increased flexibility in the cost structure (including incentives, consultants
and freelancers).

Business review at every Board meeting and regular engagement at executive
level with our clients.

A 'new and existing business' tracker is reviewed by the Executive Committee
on a monthly basis with regular updates provided to the Board.

REPUTATION

Risk definition

Increased reputational risk associated with working on client briefs perceived
to be environmentally detrimental and/or misrepresenting environmental claims.

Potential impact

As societal consciousness around climate change rises, our sector is seeing
increased scrutiny of its role in driving consumption. Our clients seek expert
partners who can give recommendations that take into account their impact and
stakeholder concerns around climate change.

Additionally, WPP serves some clients whose business models are under
increased scrutiny, for example energy companies or associated industry
groups. This creates both a reputational and related financial risk for WPP if
we are not rigorous in our content standards.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

Our climate training seeks to ensure that our people recognise

the importance of our sector's role in addressing the climate crisis. It is
part of a broader sustainability training programme being run in multiple
markets with localised content in key regions.

We have developed internal tools to help our people identify potentially
environmentally harmful briefs. These tools embed climate-related issues
within existing content review procedures across the organisation. The
misrepresentation of environmental issues is governed by our Code of Conduct.
We also ensure our policies reduce the risk that any client brief undermines
the implementation of the Paris Agreement. In 2022, we introduced the revised
Assignment Acceptance Policy and Framework and the Green Claims Guide to
provide further guidance about how to conduct additional due diligence in
relation to clients and any work we are asked to undertake.

PEOPLE, CULTURE AND SUCCESSION

Risk definition

Our performance could be adversely affected if we: do not react quickly enough
to changes in our market; fail to attract, develop and retain key creative,
commercial, technology and management talent; are unable to retain and
incentivise key and diverse talent; or are unable to adapt to new ways of
working by balancing home and office working.

Potential impact

We are highly dependent on the talent, creative abilities and technical skills
of our people as well as their relationships with clients.

We are vulnerable to the loss of people to competitors (traditional and
emerging) and clients, leading to disruption to the business.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

The Compensation Committee provides oversight for the Group's compensation and
incentive plans, which are structured to provide retention value by, for
example, paying part of annual incentives in shares that vest two years after
grant date.

WPP's All In survey provides the board, Executive Committee and senior leaders
across the Group with the general sentiment, opinions and concerns of
employees and was completed by 75% of our people in 2023. Headline findings
included general and local views on engagement, career growth, leadership,
client, wellbeing and inclusion and have contributed to the menu of
initiatives available to our people.

We continue to work across the Group to embed collaboration and invest in
training and development to retain and attract talented people.

The investment in co-located campus properties continues to increase the
cooperation across our companies and provides extremely attractive and
motivating working environments. Our real estate teams work closely with
people teams across the business to consider how space is being utilised to
support collaboration and innovation.

We also continue to focus on the mental health of our people by providing
access to wellbeing resources, support networks, funded events, discussion
forums and additional time off.

Looking ahead, succession planning for the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief
Financial Officer and key executives of the Company is undertaken by the Board
and Nomination and Governance Committee on a regular basis and a pool of
potential internal and external candidates is identified for both emergency
and planned scenarios.

CYBER AND INFORMATION SECURITY

Risk definition

WPP has in the past, and may in the future, experience a cyber attack that
leads to harm or disruption to our operations, systems or services. This risk
is also likely to increase as the prevalence and sophistication of generative
AI means there is potential for both human and AI-generated attacks.

Such an attack may also affect suppliers and partners through the unauthorised
access to or manipulation, corruption or destruction of data.

Potential impact

We may be subject to investigative or enforcement action or legal claims or
incur fines, damages or costs and client loss if we fail to adequately protect
data.

A system breakdown or intrusion could have a material adverse effect on our
business, revenues, results of operations, financial condition or prospects
and have an impact on long-term reputation and lead to client loss.

The imposition of sanctions and the associated geopolitical situation
following the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have triggered an increase in
cyber attacks generally.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

WPP has a single IT control framework that is mandatory for all WPP businesses
and is aligned to the WPP Data Privacy & Security Charter, NIST, IS27001
and COBIT.

We monitor and log our network and systems through the WPP 24/7 Cyber Security
Operations Centre, as well as undertaking threat intelligence activities,
vulnerability scanning and penetration testing, where appropriate.

Breach and attack simulation software provides continuous assessment and WPP's
Cyber Security Incident Exercise Specialists regularly test the incident
response plans and playbooks, with lessons learned and improvements
continually made.

We continually raise our people's security awareness through our mandatory WPP
Safer Data training and rolling phishing simulation and education programmes.

WPP's Data Privacy, Security & Ethics Risk Sub-committee (a sub-committee
of the WPP Risk Committee) meets quarterly and includes WPP's Chief
Information Officer, Chief Information Security Officer, Chief Privacy
Officer, Chief Sustainability Officer and Chief Technology Officer. This
committee is responsible for identifying and responding to privacy,
technology, data and cybersecurity risk across WPP.

CREDIT RISK

Risk definition

We are subject to credit risk through the default of a client or other
counterparty.

Challenging economic conditions, heightened geopolitical issues, shocks to
consumer confidence, disruption in credit markets and challenges in the supply
chain disrupting our client operations can lead to a worsening of the
financial strength and outlook for our clients who may reduce, suspend or
cancel spend with us, request extended payment terms beyond 60 days or be
unable to satisfy obligations.

Potential impact

We are generally paid in arrears for our services. Invoices are typically
payable within 30 to 60 days.

We commit to media and production purchases on behalf of some of our clients
as principal or agent depending on the client and market circumstances. If a
client is unable to pay sums due, media and production companies may look to
us to pay those amounts and there could be an adverse effect on our working
capital and operating cash flow.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

Evaluating and monitoring clients' ongoing creditworthiness and in some cases
requiring credit insurance or payments in advance.

We work closely with our clients to ensure timely payment for services in line
with contractual commitments and with vendors to maintain the settlement flow
on media.

Our treasury position and compliance with lending covenants is a recurring
agenda item for the Audit Committee and Board.

Increased management processes to manage working capital and review cash
outflows and receipts.

INTERNAL CONTROLS

Risk definition

Our performance could be adversely impacted if we fail to ensure adequate
internal control procedures are in place.

If material weaknesses are identified, they could adversely affect our results
of operations, investor confidence in the Group and the market price of our
ADSs and ordinary shares.

Potential impact

Failure to ensure that our networks have robust control environments, or that
the services we provide and trading activities within the Group are compliant
with client obligations, could adversely impact client relationships and
business volumes and revenues.

If material weaknesses in internal controls are discovered or occur in the
future, our ability to accurately record, process and report financial
information and, consequently, our ability to prepare financial statements
within required time periods, could be adversely affected.

In addition, the Group may be unable to maintain compliance with the federal
securities laws and NYSE listing requirements regarding the timely filing of
periodic reports. Any of the foregoing could cause investors to lose
confidence in the reliability of our financial reporting, which could have a
negative effect on the trading price of the Group's ADRs and ordinary shares.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

Transparency and contract compliance are embedded through the networks and
reinforced by audits at a WPP and network level.

Regular monitoring of key performance indicators for trading are undertaken to
identify trends and issues.

An authorisation matrix on inventory trading is agreed with the Board and the
Audit Committee.

Our controls function continually reviews and, as needed, enhances controls
across the Group, under the direction of our Global Director of Risk and
Controls. Our technical accounting function supports both these review efforts
and complex accounting matters and judgments, and changes in accounting
standards.

Management is committed to maintaining a strong internal control environment,
with appropriate oversight from controls committees which sit at WPP and at
network level as sub-committees of the risk committees and meet quarterly, and
from our Audit Committee. Regular actions include engagement of an independent
valuation specialist to assist with the impairment assessment of intangible
assets and goodwill, an annual refresh on discount rate methodology and
reviews of the selection of cash flow periods and net working capital
assumptions.

DATA PRIVACY

Risk definition

We are subject to strict data protection and privacy legislation in the
jurisdictions in which we operate and rely extensively on information
technology systems. We store, transmit and rely on critical and sensitive data
such as strategic plans, personally identifiable information and trade
secrets:

-     Security of this type of data is exposed to escalating external
threats, that are increasing in sophistication, as well as internal data
breaches

-     Data transfers between our global operating companies, clients or
vendors may be interrupted due to changes in law (for example, EU adequacy
decisions, CJEU Schrems II decision)

 

Potential impact

We may be subject to investigative or enforcement action or legal claims or
incur fines, damages, or costs and client loss if we fail to adequately
protect data or observe privacy legislation in every instance:

-     The Group has in the past, and may in the future, experience a
system breakdown or intrusion that could have a material adverse effect on our
business, revenues, results of operations, financial condition or prospects

-     Restrictions or limitations on international data transfers could
have an adverse effect on our business and operations

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

We develop principles on privacy and data protection and compliance with local
laws. We also monitor pending changes to regulations and identify changes to
our processes and policies that would need to be implemented. In the case of
data transfers, we also identify alternative approaches, including using other
permitted transfer mechanisms, in order to limit any potential disruption (for
example, SCCs instead of the US Data Protection Framework).

We implement extensive training ahead of new data protection regulations
(including GDPR and CPPA) and roll out toolkits to assist our people to
prepare for their implementation.

A Chief Privacy Officer and Global Data Protection Officer are appointed at
the Company and are supported by a Data Protection Office. Data privacy
activities across WPP are governed by the WPP Data Privacy & Security
Charter and follow the WPP Privacy Management Framework.

WPP's Data Privacy, Security & Ethics Risk Sub-committee (a sub-committee
of the WPP Risk Committee) meets quarterly and includes WPP's CIO, CSO, Chief
Privacy Officer, Chief Sustainability Officer and CTO. The committee has
responsibility for identifying and responding to privacy, technology, data and
cybersecurity risk across WPP.

Our people must take Privacy & Data Security Awareness training and
understand the WPP Data Code of Conduct and WPP policies on data privacy and
security.

The Data Health Checker survey is performed annually to understand the scale
and breadth of data we collect so the level of risk associated with this can
be assessed.

Annual reporting to the Audit Committee on significant regulatory changes,
data privacy risks and steps taken to mitigate those risks.

TAXATION

Risk definition

We may be subject to regulations restricting our activities or effecting
changes in taxation.

Potential impact

Changes in local or international tax rules and rates, changes arising from
the application of existing rules, new demands and assessments or challenges
by tax or competition authorities, may expose us to significant additional tax
liabilities or impact the carrying value of our deferred tax assets, which
would affect the future tax charge.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

We actively monitor any proposed regulatory or statutory changes and consult
with government agencies and regulatory bodies where possible on such proposed
changes.

Biannual briefings to the Audit Committee of significant changes in tax laws
and their application and regular briefings to executive management. We engage
advisors and legal counsel to obtain opinions on tax legislation and
principles.

REGULATORY

Risk definition

We are subject to strict anti- corruption, anti-bribery and anti-trust
legislation and enforcement and incoming anti-fraud legislation in the
countries in which we operate.

Potential impact

We operate in a number of markets where the corruption risk has been
identified as high by groups such as Transparency International.

Failure to comply or to create a culture opposed to fraud and corruption or
failing to instil business practices that prevent fraud and corruption could
expose us to civil and criminal sanctions.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

Online and in-country ethics, anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-fraud and
antitrust training on a Group-wide basis to raise awareness and seek
compliance with our Code of Conduct and ABC and Fraud Policy.

A continuously evolving business integrity function to ensure compliance with
our codes and policies and remediation of any breaches of policy.

Continuous communication of the confidential, independently operated Right to
Speak helpline for our people and stakeholders to raise any potential breaches
of our Code and policies, which are investigated and reported to the Audit
Committee on a regular basis.

Due diligence on acquisitions and on selecting and appointing suppliers, an
actively managed disclosure programme around conflicts of interest and related
party interests and restrictions on the use of third-party consultants in
connection with any client pitches.

Rolling programme of creating shared financial services in the markets in
which we operate and a controls function which operates at WPP and at network
level.

Risk committees are well established at WPP and across the networks to monitor
risk and compliance through all of our businesses and the enhancement of our
business integrity programme across our markets. For details of the risk
committees' responsibilities and our business integrity programme see pages
93-96.

Gift and hospitality register and approvals process.

SANCTIONS

Risk definition

We are subject to the laws of the US, the EU, the UK and other jurisdictions
that impose sanctions and regulate the supply of services to certain
countries.

The conflict in Ukraine has caused the adoption of comprehensive sanctions by,
among others, the EU, the US and the UK, which restrict a wide range of trade
and financial dealings with Russia and Russian persons.

Potential impact

Failure to comply with these laws could expose us to civil and criminal
penalties including fines and the imposition of economic sanctions against us
and reputational damage and withdrawal of banking facilities which could
materially impact our results.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

Online training to raise awareness and seek compliance and updates for our
companies on any new sanctions.

Regular briefings to the Audit Committee and constant monitoring by the WPP
legal team with assistance from external advisors of the sanctions regimes.
Executive Committee briefed and working with the WPP legal team to ensure
compliance with escalating sanctions as a consequence of the conflict in
Ukraine.

We have taken a number of actions as a consequence of the conflict in Ukraine.
We discontinued our operations in Russia and have ensured compliance with all
sanctions as they impact any clients, suppliers or financial arrangements.

ESG REGULATION AND REPORTING

Risk definition

The Group could be subject to increased costs to comply with the potential
future changes in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) law and
regulations.

A failure to manage the complexity in carbon emission accounting for marketing
and media or to consider Scope 3 emissions in new technology and business
model innovation across the supply chain could have an adverse effect on our
business and reputation.

Potential impact

We could be subject to increased costs to comply with potential future changes
in ESG laws and regulations. This includes increasing carbon offset pricing to
meet our net zero commitments.

Increased investment is also required in building renovation, electrification,
embedding sustainability in AI development and supplier engagement to meet
targets, including developing internal ESG capacity and capabilities.

In addition, carbon emission accounting for marketing and media is in its
infancy and methodologies continue to evolve. This is particularly the case
for emissions associated with digital media.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

We are developing an ESG compliance roadmap to deliver against our regulatory
obligations, including for the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting
Directive.

Our Transition Plan will provide the roadmap to achieving our net zero
commitments. As part of this plan and through our work to decarbonise media
and media supply chains, we are exploring opportunities to improve accounting
for emissions from media.

To manage the cost and quality of carbon credits purchased to offset residual
emissions, in 2022 WPP updated its Sustainability Policy and released a new
Environmental Policy which includes policy guidance around offsetting and we
are further developing our offsetting strategy as part of our net zero
roadmap.

The Board Sustainability Committee, formed in 2019, gives increased focus on
sustainability and implementation of our plans and policies.

Measuring and monitoring sustainability KPIs is critical to meet our
sustainability strategy and targets. In 2022, we introduced new ESG controls
which we continued to roll out across the business in 2023 and regular testing
of which provides crucial measurement data.

ESG KPIs are included as part of the scorecard that determines the short-term
incentive rewards for WPP's CEO, CFO and some key members of the Executive
Committee. This includes WPP's performance against carbon reduction targets.

Further information on ESG governance and ESG reporting is provided in the
Sustainability section of this report (pages 53-61).

EMERGING RISKS

Risk definition

The Group's operations could be disrupted by an increased frequency of extreme
weather and climate-related natural disasters.

Potential impact

This includes storms, flooding, wildfires and water and heat stress which can
damage our buildings, jeopardise the safety and wellbeing of our people and
significantly disrupt our operations.

How it is managed and reflected in our strategic priorities

Our Crisis Management and Business Resilience function provides global
standards for operational resilience: strategy, governance, policy, resources
and training assets to better plan for and respond to crisis events of all
types and at all degrees of scale. This includes extreme weather events.

Co-locating our people in fewer, higher-capacity campus buildings means we can
centralise emergency preparedness procedures and deploy climate mitigation
measures more efficiently. Climate-related risk is considered when we invest
in new campus buildings.

Our hybrid working approach, which incorporates new ways of working adopted
during the pandemic, provides additional resilience by enabling fully remote
working - provided employees and their families are in safe locations - during
extreme weather events.

The Employee Assistance Programme is activated in response to climate-related
extreme weather events.

APPENDIX B: DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

Each of the current Directors whose names and functions are listed in the
Corporate Governance section of the Annual Report 2023 confirms that, to the
best of his or her knowledge:

·    the Group financial statements, which have been prepared in
accordance with IFRS, issued by the International Accounting Standards Board
(IASB) as they apply to the financial statements of the Group for the year
ended 31 December 2023, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities,
financial position and profit of the Group; and

·    the Strategic Report and risk sections of the Annual Report, which
represent the management report, include a fair review of the development and
performance of the business and the position of the Company and the Group
taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and
uncertainties that it faces.

APPENDIX C: RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The Group enters into transactions with its associate undertakings. The Group
has continuing transactions with Kantar, including sales, purchases, the
provision of IT services, subleases and property-related items. In the year
ended 31 December 2023, revenue of £233.0 million (2022: £159.7 million) was
reported in relation to Compas, an associate in the USA, and revenue of £20.9
million (2022: £42.7 million) was reported in relation to Kantar. All other
transactions in the years presented were immaterial.

 

The following amounts owed by related parties were outstanding at 31 December
2023:

 

Kantar £17.5 million

Other £56.0 million

 

The following amounts owed to related parties were outstanding at 31 December
2022:

 

Kantar £(4.7) million

Other £(70.4) million

 

END

 

 

 

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