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WPP (WPP) CEO and CFO report March 2026 share vesting and tax sale

Filing Impact
(Neutral)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
6-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

WPP plc reported routine executive share transactions linked to incentive plans. On 10 March 2026, Chief Executive Officer Cindy Rose received 88,271 ordinary shares through vesting of a 2022 Executive Performance Share Plan award, and 41,571 shares were automatically sold at £2.555 each to cover statutory withholding liabilities and costs. On the same date, Chief Financial Officer Joanne Wilson received 26,566 ordinary shares under the WPP Stock Plan 2018 and provided cash to the company for withholding liabilities, so she retained all vested shares. These transactions were notified under Article 19 of the Market Abuse Regulation.

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________
 
FORM 6-K
____________________
 
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the Month of March 2026
 
Commission File Number: 001-38303
______________________
 
WPP plc
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
________________________
 
Sea Containers, 18 Upper Ground
London, United Kingdom SE1 9GL
(Address of principal executive offices)
_________________________
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
 
Form 20-F X Form 40-F ___
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ___
 
Note:  Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ___
 
Note:  Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant’s “home country”), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant’s securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant’s security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
The Company may include forward-looking statements (including as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) in oral or written public statements issued by or on behalf of the Company. These forward-looking statements may include, among other things, plans, objectives, beliefs, intentions, strategies, projections and anticipated future economic performance based on assumptions and the like that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as ‘aim’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘forecast’, ‘guidance’, ‘intend’, ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘should’, ‘potential’, ‘possible’, ‘predict’, ‘project’, ‘plan’, ‘target’, and other words and similar references to future periods but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. As such, all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances that are beyond the control of the Company. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made, as a prediction of actual results or otherwise. Important factors which may cause actual results to differ include but are not limited to: the unanticipated loss of a material client or key personnel; delays, suspensions or reductions in client advertising budgets; shifts in industry rates of compensation; regulatory compliance costs or litigation; changes in competitive factors in the industries in which we operate and demand for our products and services; changes in client advertising, marketing and corporate communications requirements; our inability to realise the future anticipated benefits of acquisitions; failure to realise our assumptions regarding goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets; natural disasters or acts of terrorism; the Company’s ability to attract new clients; the economic and geopolitical impact of the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; the risk of global economic downturn; slower growth, increasing interest rates and high and sustained inflation; tariffs and other trade barriers; supply chain issues affecting the distribution of our clients’ products; technological changes and risks to the security of IT and operational infrastructure, systems, data and information resulting from increased threat of cyber and other attacks; effectively managing the risks, challenges and efficiencies presented by using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI technologies and partnerships in our business; risks related to our environmental, social and governance goals and initiatives, including impacts from regulators and other stakeholders, and the impact of factors outside of our control on such goals and initiatives; the Company’s exposure to changes in the values of other major currencies (because a substantial portion of its revenues are derived and costs incurred outside of the UK); and the overall level of economic activity in the Company’s major markets (which varies depending on, among other things, regional, national and international political and economic conditions and government regulations in the world’s advertising markets). In addition, you should consider the risks described in Item 3D, captioned “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which could also cause actual results to differ from forward-looking information. In light of these and other uncertainties, the forward-looking statements included in this document should not be regarded as a representation by the Company that the Company’s plans and objectives will be achieved. Neither the Company, nor any of its directors, officers or employees, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of any events anticipated, expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements will actually occur. Other than in accordance with its legal or regulatory obligations (including under the Market Abuse Regulation, the UK Listing Rules and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority), the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit No.
Description
 
1
Vesting of Share Awards dated 11 March 2026, prepared by WPP plc.
  
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11 March 2026
 
 
WPP plc ("WPP")
 
Vesting of Executive Directors' Share Awards
 
Notification of Transactions of Directors/Persons Discharging Managerial Responsibilities or their Connected Persons
 
The Company announces that the following persons discharging managerial responsibilities transacted in ordinary shares of 10 pence each in the Company due to the vesting of a conditional share award under the terms of the 2022 Executive Performance Share Plan ("EPSP") award and the WPP Stock Plan 2018 respectively.
 
 
Name of Executive Director
Total number of shares vested
Total number of shares sold to cover statutory withholding liabilities
Date of transaction
Cindy Rose
88,271  
41,571  
10 March 2026
Joanne Wilson
26,566  
01   
10 March 2026
1 As permitted under the rules of the WPP Stock Plan 2018 Joanne Wilson provided the Company with cash funds equal to the withholding liabilities due on vesting and therefore retained all the shares vesting.
 
 
1.
 
Details of PDMR/person closely associated with them ('PCA')
 
a)
 
Name 
 
Cindy Rose
 
b)
 
Position/status
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
c)
 
Initial notification/amendment
 
Initial notification
 
2.
 
Details of the issuer
 
a)
 
Full name of the entity
 
WPP plc
 
b)
 
Legal Entity Identifier code
 
549300LSGBXPYHXGDT93
 
3.
 
Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted
 
a)
 
Description of the financial instrument
 
Ordinary shares of 10 pence each ('Ordinary Shares')
 
ISIN: JE00B8KF9B49

Transaction 1
 
b)
 
Nature of the transaction 
 
Acquisition of ordinary shares following the vesting of a portion of a conditional share award under the WPP 2022 Executive Performance Share Plan
 
c)
 
Price(s) and volume(s)
 
Volume: 88,271
 
Price: n/a
 
d)
 
Aggregated information
 
-     Aggregated volume
 
-     Price
 
n/a
 
e)
 
Date of the transaction
 
10 March 2026
 
f)
 
Place of the transaction
 
London Stock Exchange (XLON)
 
Transaction 2
 
b)
Nature of the transaction
Automatic sale of ordinary shares pursuant to a trading plan to cover statutory withholding liabilities and costs following the vesting of a conditional share award under the WPP 2022 Executive Performance Share Plan
 
c)
Price(s) and volume(s)
Volume: 41,571
Price: £2.555
 
d)
Aggregated information
 
-     Aggregated volume
 
-     Price
 
n/a (single transaction)
e)
Date of the transaction
10 March 2026
 
f)
Place of the transaction
London Stock Exchange (XLON)
 
 
 
1.
 
Details of PDMR/person closely associated with them ('PCA')
 
a)
 
Name 
 
Joanne Wilson
 
b)
 
Position/status
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
c)
 
Initial notification/amendment
 
Initial notification
 
2.
 
Details of the issuer
 
a)
 
Full name of the entity
 
WPP plc
 
b)
 
Legal Entity Identifier code
 
549300LSGBXPYHXGDT93
 
3.
 
Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted
 
a)
 
Description of the financial instrument
 
Ordinary shares of 10 pence each ('Ordinary Shares')
ISIN: JE00B8KF9B49
 
b)
 
Nature of the transaction 
 
Acquisition of ordinary shares following the vesting of an award made under the WPP Stock Plan 2018
 
c)
 
Price(s) and volume(s)
 
Volume: 26,566
Price: n/a
 
d)
 
Aggregated information
 
-     Aggregated volume
 
-     Price
 
n/a
 
e)
 
Date of the transaction
 
10 March 2026
 
f)
 
Place of the transaction
 
London Stock Exchange (XLON)
 
 
This notice is given in fulfilment of the obligation under Article 19 of the Market Abuse Regulation.
 
Balbir Kelly-Bisla
Group Company Secretary
 
 
Further information
 
Media: press@wpp.com
Investors: irteam@wpp.com
 
About WPP
WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company - powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com
 
END
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
WPP PLC
 
(Registrant)
 
 
Date: 11 March 2026.
By:  ______________________ 
 
          Balbir Kelly-Bisla
 
          Company Secretary
 

FAQ

What executive share transactions did WPP (WPP) disclose in March 2026?

WPP disclosed routine incentive-plan vesting for its CEO and CFO on 10 March 2026. Cindy Rose and Joanne Wilson received ordinary shares under long-term incentive plans, with part of Rose’s award sold to cover tax withholding obligations.

How many WPP (WPP) shares did CEO Cindy Rose receive and sell?

Cindy Rose received 88,271 WPP ordinary shares through vesting of a 2022 Executive Performance Share Plan award. Of these, 41,571 shares were automatically sold at £2.555 per share to cover statutory withholding liabilities and related costs, with the remainder retained.

What share award did CFO Joanne Wilson of WPP (WPP) receive?

Joanne Wilson received 26,566 WPP ordinary shares on 10 March 2026 under the WPP Stock Plan 2018. She paid cash to the company to settle withholding liabilities, allowing her to keep all shares from the vesting instead of selling any for taxes.

Were WPP (WPP) executive share sales part of a trading plan?

Yes. The 41,571 WPP ordinary shares sold for Cindy Rose were disposed of automatically under a trading plan. The sale was solely to cover statutory withholding liabilities and costs following the vesting of her conditional share award.

On which market were the WPP (WPP) executive share transactions conducted?

The reported WPP executive share transactions took place on the London Stock Exchange (XLON). Both the vesting-related acquisition for Cindy Rose and Joanne Wilson, and the automatic sale for Rose to cover tax withholding, are recorded as occurring on this exchange.

Why did WPP (WPP) publish these executive share dealings?

WPP published these executive share dealings to comply with Article 19 of the Market Abuse Regulation. This rule requires timely disclosure of transactions in company shares by persons discharging managerial responsibilities, such as the CEO and CFO, or their closely associated persons.
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