WPP Aligns with Corporate Trends, Removes DEI References Post-Trump Re-election
London, Monday, 31 March 2025.
British advertising giant WPP eliminates diversity, equity, and inclusion mentions from its annual report amid global corporate policy shifts following Donald Trump’s re-election.
Strategic Policy Shift
WPP (LSE: WPP), one of the world’s largest advertising companies, filed its annual report on March 28, 2025, marking a significant departure from its previous corporate communications [4]. The report completely eliminates all references to ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ (DEI), terms that appeared 20 times in the previous year’s document [1][3]. The company has also rebranded its executive performance metrics, changing ‘people and DE&I’ to ‘people and culture’ in relation to short-term bonus packages [2].
Corporate Response to Political Climate
WPP’s CEO Mark Read acknowledged the shifting landscape in the annual report, noting that ‘much has changed over the last year’ [3]. The advertising giant’s decision reflects broader corporate adjustments, as more than 200 US companies have removed DEI references from their annual reports since Trump’s re-election [1]. This transformation comes in direct response to the administration’s aggressive stance on diversity initiatives, with Trump having signed executive orders dismantling DEI programs within federal agencies [3].
International Implications
The impact extends beyond US borders, particularly affecting companies with significant American operations. The Trump administration has expanded its oversight to European companies, issuing warnings to firms holding US government contracts about compliance with anti-DEI executive orders [3]. WPP, which counts the United States as its largest market, appears to be adapting its corporate communications strategy accordingly, while maintaining what CEO Read describes as a commitment to ‘navigate the expectations of different audiences with competing views on sensitive topics’ [1][2].