WPP’s VML has cut fewer than 100 roles across North America, less than 1% of its regional workforce, as part of a capabilities realignment tied to growth areas, evolving tech, and market conditions.
In a statement, the agency said the reductions reflect “shifting capability needs” and an effort to remain “transformative and nimble,” noting it is still hiring for select roles aligned to those priorities. The move lands amid a broader industry reset: sibling network Ogilvy shed about 700 jobs (roughly 5% globally) as it streamlined operations and further integrated WPP Open, while IPG Mediabrands let go of just over 100 employees earlier this year.
Further consolidation-driven changes are expected following Omnicom’s acquisition of Interpublic Group. VML ended 2024 with roughly 26,000 employees worldwide, down from 28,000 the prior year; WPP’s year-end headcount fell 5.4% versus 2023, with North America averaging a 4.6% decline. Ad Age was the first to report this.
Even as VML tightens, it’s also collecting hardware. The agency was named Network of the Year at the Jay Chiat Awards this week and took home the Grand Prix for VML Belgium’s “Finding Juliette” for Child Focus, the Belgian Center for Missing Children. The win headlined a haul of gold, silver, and bronze trophies that underscored the shop’s “human-first” strategic posture across categories and markets.
Additional honors included gold for Unilever’s Hellmann’s (“Mayo Cat: How Hellmann’s Turned Leftovers into a Brand Transformation Story,” with Mindshare, Edelman, Village) and gold for Sela x Newcastle United (“Sela Sound Shirt,” with Spectacle Partners, CuteCircuit).
Wendy’s “The Frosty Fix” earned silver. Bronze awards went to Movistar (“This Is Not a Game,” with starpower, Coyne PR, Linqia, Havas) and Florida Immigrant Coalition’s “Napkins of Rights” (with Letca). “Our global wins truly reflect the breadth and depth of our strategic talent… and our unwavering commitment to creating work that matters,” said Neil Dawson, VML’s global CSO.
The 4A’s Jay Chiat Awards also spotlighted individual strategists: Zulay Tomasiello (finalist, Visionary Strategist) and Alex Mason (nominee, Emerging Strategist).
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