Ford looks beyond WPP

Sorrell, who over 33 years built the firm into one of Britain’s biggest companies, quit last week as chief executive officer after an allegation of personal misconduct that he denies.

Saturday’s announcement is part of a review of Ford’s strategy that has lasted since November, when it told long-time partner WPP that it was considering its future ad model.

“We are going to place some portions of our advertising business up for bid with other agencies, including WPP, beginning in the coming weeks. No decisions have been made,” Ford Britain said in a statement.

It added that WPP is a trusted partner of Ford and that it had offered the agency more detail about its marketing aspirations.

WPP, which counts Ford as a major client, declined to comment (RTRS)