B&TB&TB&T
  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Regulars
    • Agency Scorecards
    • Best of the Best
    • Campaigns of the Month
    • CMO Power List
    • CMOs to Watch
    • Culture Bites
    • Fast 10
    • New Business Winners
    • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Jobs
  • Awards
    • 30 Under 30
    • B&T Awards
    • Cairns Crocodiles
    • Women In Media
    • Women Leading Tech
Search
Trending topics:
  • Cairns Crocodiles
  • Nine
  • Seven
  • Cannes Lions
  • WPP
  • State of Origin
  • NRL
  • B&T Women in Media
  • Thinkerbell
  • imaa
  • Agency Scorecards
  • Pinterest
  • Anthony Albanese
  • AFL
  • AI
  • Meta
  • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • TV Ratings
  • Radio Ratings
  • Sports Marketing

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.
Reading: WPP Unveils Its Commitment To Fight Racism & Invest In Black Talent
Share
B&TB&T
Subscribe
Search
  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Regulars
    • Agency Scorecards
    • Best of the Best
    • Campaigns of the Month
    • CMO Power List
    • CMOs to Watch
    • Culture Bites
    • Fast 10
    • New Business Winners
    • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Jobs
  • Awards
    • 30 Under 30
    • B&T Awards
    • Cairns Crocodiles
    • Women In Media
    • Women Leading Tech
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.
B&T > Media > WPP Unveils Its Commitment To Fight Racism & Invest In Black Talent
Media

WPP Unveils Its Commitment To Fight Racism & Invest In Black Talent

Staff Writers
Published on: 18th June 2020 at 6:37 AM
Staff Writers
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

WPP today announced a set of commitments and actions to help combat racial injustice and support Black and minority ethnic talent. They include:

  1. We will take decisive action on each of the 12 points in the “Call For Change” open letter to the industry from more than 1,200 Black advertising professionals; complete a fundamental review of our hiring, retention, promotion and development practices; and publish our racial diversity data.
  2. We will use our voice to fight racism and advance the cause of racial equality in and beyond our industry.
  3. We will invest $U30 million over the next three years to fund inclusion programmes within WPP and to support external organisations.

The 12 actions in the “Call For Change” letter range from investment in the career paths of Black employees and a measurable commitment to improving Black representation in senior management, to wage equity plans for people of colour and mandatory anti-racism training for leaders and HR employees. Our agencies have already taken or are in the process of taking many of the actions, but we will implement all 12 throughout WPP, on an accelerated timescale. This will include setting targets, tracking the progression of under-represented groups and publishing our racial diversity data. This work will be underpinned by a comprehensive review of our policies, processes and practices so that they elevate Black talent and never stifle it.

Our greatest impact is through the work we create, and we will use our platform to enlighten, educate and inspire action. We will engage with clients, partners, peers, industry bodies, event organisers and suppliers to ensure that Black and minority ethnic talent is fairly represented not only in the work but in our industry and wider networks. We will formally commit only to participate in events or panels where people of colour are represented, in line with the pledge WPP CEO Mark Read signed some time ago not to participate in male-only panels. We will also identify and put forward people of colour as speakers at events to proactively raise their visibility. We will review supplier diversity to give greater support to minority-owned businesses.

We will commit $10 million a year over the next three years to fund these programmes and to provide support for anti-racism charities. We will make donations, offer our services pro bono and work with our media partners to support charities and other organisations committed to fighting racism, developing minority talent and addressing issues that affect Black and ethnic minority communities. WPP will also match employee donations to charities selected in consultation with our WPP Roots steering committee up to $1,000 per person, to a total of $1 million.

Our new Global Inclusion Council will work with Mark Read CEO of WPP (main photo) and the WPP Executive Committee to ensure that the commitments above are met. Advising the Council will be a taskforce dedicated to advancing the opportunities and interests of Black colleagues specifically.

The leaders of WPP’s global agency networks have each signed up to these commitments and will be held accountable for delivering them within their businesses.

Announcing the commitments, Mark Read, said: “Over the last three weeks, I have heard an outpouring of pain, anger and frustration from Black colleagues, along with clear demands for change. This is the moment to embrace that change, and to use our creativity, our scale and our influence to make a difference in the fight against racism. WPP must support and elevate Black employees, and those from other under-represented groups, not as a diversity and inclusion initiative but as a business and moral imperative.”

Join more than 30,000 advertising industry experts
Get all the latest advertising and media news direct to your inbox from B&T.

No related posts.

TAGGED: Mark Read, WPP
Share
Staff Writers
By Staff Writers
Follow:
Staff Writers represent B&T's team of award-winning reporters. Here, you'll find articles crafted with industry experience spanning over 50 years. Our team of specialists brings together a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to delivering insightful, topical, and breaking news. With a deep understanding of advertising and media, our Staff Writers are dedicated to providing industry-leading analysis and reporting, both shaping the conversation and setting the benchmark for excellence.

Latest News

Mindshare & Kaimera Drive Off With MG Media Account After Incumbents Decline To Re-Pitch
18/07/2025
Jake Stringer flying up above his old club.
TV Ratings (17/07/2025): Jake Stringer Puts On A Show Against His Old Side
18/07/2025
Fever Tree Global Creative Account Goes To Pitch
18/07/2025
Where Did The Bookies Go? Rugby League 26 Launches Without Gambling Sponsors
18/07/2025
//

B&T is Australia’s leading news publication magazine for the advertising, marketing, media and PR industries.

 

B&T is owned by parent company The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.

About B&T

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise

Top Categories

  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Opinion
  • Technology
  • TV Ratings

Sign Up for Our Newsletter



B&TB&T
Follow US
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Register Lost your password?