JWT, GroupM, Ogilvy, Wunderman and Y&R Organize for the Future

New Media Services, Brand Experiences and Shared Administrative Units Being Formed

DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 12 -- Five of WPP's top Detroit area marketing communications agencies are restructuring their service offerings in Detroit to offer best-in-class talent, easy access and more effective marketing partnerships to their client base.

One of the key elements of the plan is the creation of innovative shared marketing services that will result from combining talent from the full breadth of the agencies. The companies will collocate in a two-building campus in Dearborn to enable the necessary level of collaboration. A new unit will be devoted to Brand Experience Services, another dedicated to Media Services, a group devoted to studio and production services (both print and broadcast) and a shared group of administrative resources.

JWT, Ogilvy and Y&R will continue to operate independently. There will still be offices of MindShare and Mediaedge:cia.

The agencies will share the two Ford Land-owned buildings at 500 and 550 Town Center Drive in Dearborn. The moves are scheduled to be completed by the end of December 2006.

The 1,200 employees affected by this collocation gathered today at Ford's Conference and Exhibition Center and learned details of this move. JWT is currently located at 500 Woodward in Detroit; Ogilvy's employees will relocate from Dearborn's Parklane Towers. Y&R and Wunderman are currently in the 550 Town Center building. GroupM has operating units in both Detroit and Dearborn.

"We have the wonderful opportunity to create a vibrant, creative resource in Dearborn where employees and clients can really benefit from a truly collaborative environment," said Satish Korde, WPP Team Ford president. "This move will help our largest client, Ford, but will also be a big plus to our other clients in the market," he added.

"A laser-like focus on our customers and brands is at the heart of our plan to put Ford on offense and become America's Car Company again," said Mark Fields, Ford executive vice president, and president, The Americas. "Having all of our agency partners in one building will provide the collaboration we need to help make it happen."

JWT, Ogilvy and Y&R will continue to be led by George Rogers, Jan Starr and Paul Venn, respectively. Tim Copacia will lead the Brand Experience Services group and Jack Valente and Andy Prakken will head the Media Services unit.

The additional shared services operating units that the Detroit-based WPP agencies can access include Brand Experience Services, Media Services, Administrative Services and Creative Production and Studio Services. Brand Experience Services will include CRM, Digital, Experiential Marketing, Database & Analytics and Public Relations. Media Services will include National planning and buying, regional planning and Media Research. Spot market buying will continue to be handled by MindShare and Mediaedge:cia regional buying offices. Administrative services will include finance, human resources, information technology, quality management systems (QMS) and facility management. Creative production and studio services will include print and broadcast studios, production, asset management and creative support.

ABOUT WPP

WPP is one of the world's largest communications services groups, made up of leading companies in:

  *  Advertising
  *  Media investment management
  *  Information, insight & consultancy
  *  Public relations & public affairs
  *  Branding & identity
  *  Healthcare communications
  *  Direct, promotion & relationship marketing
  *  Specialist communications

Collectively, the Group has 91,000 people working in over 2,000 offices in 106 countries. WPP companies provide communications services to clients worldwide including more than 300 of the Fortune Global 500, over one-half of the Nasdaq 100 and over 30 of the Fortune e-50.

WPP companies work with over 330 clients in three or more disciplines. More than 230 clients are served in four disciplines; these clients account for around 50% of Group revenues. The Group also works with nearly 200 clients in six or more countries.