SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Agencies WPP's Alleged Global Rebate Scheme, Told Through Three Court Cases Three separate cases put WPP at the center of an alleged illegal rebate practice carried out by WPP executives through its media buying arm Credit: Christopher Cicchiello By Christopher Cicchiello --> ADWEEK House: Advertising HQ brings the people shaping advertising, commerce, and media together for four days of unscripted conversations and after-hours connections. Meet us in Midtown, Oct. 5–8.
A whistleblower suing for wrongful termination, an alleged kickback scheme, and a life sentence conviction in China are all central to WPP’s mounting legal troubles.
These three separate court cases reference an alleged illegal rebate practice carried out by WPP executives for years through media buying arm GroupM (now WPP Media).
The cases have dredged up a years-old debate about agencies pocketing media rebates, and the extent to which that practice is illegal. While rebates can be lawful—and in some jurisdictions are widely acceptable—they become an illegal “kickback” when an agent keeps money without the client’s knowledge and consent, according to the Anti-Kickback Statute.
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Christopher Cicchiello is ADWEEK's agencies reporter. Previously, he was on the breaking news assignment desk at NBC News in Washington D.C., where he earned an Emmy nomination for his 2024 election coverage. His byline has appeared in NBC News, TODAY, Quincy News, The Times Union, and The Daily Orange.
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