In 1985 he invested in Wire and Plastic Products. A British manufacturer of wire shopping baskets and became its full-time Chief Executive in 1986. He acquired 18 advertising companies in three years including a hostile takeover of J. Walter Thompson and followed this with a further hostile takeover of Ogilvy and Mather in 1989.

WPP is considered the driving force of consolidation of changes with the communications industry for the last fifteen years. The group is now the largest media buying group in the world. Together with which includes JWT, Ogilvy and Mather, Young & Rubicam and Grey, WPP is one of the top four global advertising groups.