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Executive pay and all AGM resolutions approved at WPP (NYSE: WPP)

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(Neutral)
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Form Type
6-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

WPP plc reported the results of shareholder voting at its 8 May 2026 Annual General Meeting, where all 20 resolutions were approved by poll vote. Shareholders strongly backed receiving the 2025 Annual Report and Accounts and declaring a final dividend, with more than 99% of votes in favour on each.

The Compensation Committee report and the Directors' Compensation Policy were also approved, receiving 75.84% and 74.92% support respectively. Because both fell below the 80% support level referenced in the UK Corporate Governance Code, the Board plans to engage with major shareholders who opposed these items and will provide an update within six months of the AGM.

Resolutions to re-elect or elect all named directors, re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditor, authorise directors to allot securities, approve share repurchases and disapply pre-emption rights were passed with clear majorities. The issued share capital, excluding treasury shares, was 1,078,802,358 ordinary shares.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.

Insights

All WPP AGM resolutions passed, but pay support dipped below the UK 80% stewardship threshold.

WPP obtained shareholder approval for all 20 AGM resolutions, including director elections, auditor re-appointment and capital authorities. Most items, such as receiving the 2025 accounts and declaring a final dividend, achieved very high support levels above 99%, signalling broad backing for the board’s overall stewardship.

Executive pay attracted more scrutiny. The Compensation Committee report and Directors' Compensation Policy passed with 75.84% and 74.92% support, respectively, below the 80% level highlighted in the UK Corporate Governance Code. The Board has committed to engage with major shareholders who voted against and to provide an update within six months of the May 2026 AGM, which may lead to refinements of future pay structures but does not alter the current policy’s validity.

Votes for 2025 Annual Report and Accounts 905,526,445 votes (99.99% for) Resolution 1 at May 2026 AGM
Votes for final dividend 905,482,063 votes (99.94% for) Resolution 2 at May 2026 AGM
Support for Compensation Committee report 75.84% for Resolution 3 shareholder vote
Support for Directors' Compensation Policy 74.92% for Resolution 4 shareholder vote
Support to authorise directors to allot securities 85.20% for Resolution 17 shareholder vote
Issued share capital 1,078,802,358 ordinary shares Excluding treasury shares, as noted in AGM results
Annual General Meeting financial
"Following its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") held at 10.00am on Friday 8 May 2026"
Compensation Committee report financial
"Ordinary Resolution to approve the Compensation Committee report"
Directors' Compensation Policy financial
"Ordinary Resolution to approve the Directors' Compensation Policy"
pre-emption rights financial
"Special Resolution to authorise the disapplication of pre-emption rights"
A shareholder’s right to be offered new shares before they are sold to outsiders, allowing existing owners to buy enough to keep their ownership percentage. Think of it like being offered the first slice of a pie so your share doesn’t shrink; it matters to investors because it protects voting power and economic value from being diluted when a company issues more stock, and it can affect how easy or costly fundraising is.
UK Corporate Governance Code financial
"received less than the 80% level identified in the UK Corporate Governance Code"
special resolutions financial
"resolutions 18 to 20 were passed as special resolutions"
Special resolutions are shareholder votes used to approve major, permanent changes to a company—such as altering the rules, approving mergers, or changing capital structure—and they require a higher-than-normal approval level (commonly a substantial supermajority rather than a simple majority). They matter to investors because they can permanently change rights, ownership or strategy; think of them like needing more than a simple majority to pass a company’s equivalent of a constitutional change.

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 May 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
Results of AGM dated 08 May 2026, prepared by WPP plc.
 
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8 May 2026
 
 
 
 
 
                                                      WPP PLC ("WPP")
  
                                                    Results of AGM
  
 
Following its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") held at 10.00am on Friday 8 May 2026, WPP announces the results of the poll vote for each resolution set out in the Notice of AGM. The full text of the resolutions proposed at the AGM is included in WPP's Notice of AGM published on 19 March 2026, which is available on WPP's website at: www.wpp.com/investors.
 
Resolutions 1 to 17 were passed as ordinary resolutions and resolutions 18 to 20 were passed as special resolutions.
 
The following table shows the votes cast on each resolution:
 
Resolution
Total Votes  For
%
Total Votes Against
%
Total Votes Cast
Votes Withheld
 
 
1 Ordinary Resolution to receive the 2025 Annual Report and Accounts
905,526,445
99.99%
135,788
0.01%
905,662,233
403,209
 
2 Ordinary Resolution to declare a final dividend
905,482,063
99.94%
525,816
0.06%
906,007,879
57,563
 
3 Ordinary Resolution to approve the Compensation Committee report
686,768,749
75.84%
218,835,048
24.16%
905,603,797
461,645
 
4 Ordinary Resolution to approve the Directors' Compensation Policy
678,516,018
74.92%
227,188,927
25.08%
905,704,945
380,497
 
5 Ordinary Resolution to re-elect Angela Ahrendts DBE as a Director
873,033,403
96.37%
32,895,183
3.63%
905,928,586
136,856
 
6 Ordinary Resolution to re-elect Simon Dingemans as a Director
791,878,593
98.95%
8,440,126
1.05%
800,318,719
105,746,723
 
7 Ordinary Resolution to re-elect Sandrine Dufour as a Director
894,678,647
98.76%
11,256,898
1.24%
905,935,545
129,897
 
8 Ordinary Resolution to re-elect Tom Ilube CBE as a Director
894,410,984
98.73%
11,528,291
1.27%
905,939,275
126,167
 
9 Ordinary Resolution to elect Philip Jansen as a Director
897,294,234
99.04%
8,653,138
0.96%
905,947,372
118,070
 
10 Ordinary Resolution to re-elect Cindy Rose OBE as a Director
902,623,890
99.63%
3,332,950
0.37%
905,956,840
108,602
 
11 Ordinary Resolution to re-elect Keith Weed CBE as a Director
890,413,850
99.04%
8,652,766
0.96%
899,066,616
6,998,826
 
12 Ordinary Resolution to re-elect Jasmine Whitbread as a Director
892,048,983
98.47%
13,893,640
1.53%
905,942,623
122,819
 
13 Ordinary Resolution to re-elect Joanne Wilson as a Director
902,593,916
99.63%
3,354,337
0.37%
905,948,253
117,189
 
14 Ordinary Resolution to re-elect Dr. Ya-Qin Zhang as a Director
790,960,464
98.83%
9,360,744
1.17%
800,321,208
105,744,234
 
15 Ordinary Resolution to re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the auditor of the Company
905,526,755
99.98%
202,016
0.02%
905,728,771
336,671
 
16 Ordinary Resolution to authorise the Audit Committee, on behalf of the Board, to determine the auditor's remuneration
905,505,852
99.98%
221,369
0.02%
905,727,221
338,221
 
17 Ordinary Resolution to authorise the Directors to allot relevant securities
771,849,994
85.20%
134,115,594
14.80%
905,965,588
99,854
 
 18 Special Resolution to authorise the Company to purchase its own shares
905,374,604
99.95%
449,815
0.05%
905,824,419
241,023
 
19 Special Resolution to authorise the disapplication of pre-emption rights
864,629,910
95.45%
41,258,461
4.55%
905,888,371
177,071
 
20 Special Resolution to authorise the disapplication of pre-emption rights in connection with acquisitions and other specified capital investments
91,140,080
87.33%
114,737,461
12.67%
905,877,541
187,901

Resolutions 3 and 4
 
The WPP Board is delighted that all the resolutions were supported at today's Annual General Meeting. In particular the Board thanks the significant majority of our shareholders who voted in support of the Compensation Committee Report (Resolution 3) and the Directors' Compensation Policy (Resolution 4).
 
The Board notes that, although approved with clear majorities, Resolution 3 (Compensation Committee Report) and Resolution 4 (Directors' Compensation Policy) received less than the 80% level identified in the UK Corporate Governance Code. As such, in accordance with the Code the Board will engage with any major shareholders who did not support the resolutions to understand the reasons behind their voting decision. An update on these discussions will be provided within six months of today's AGM.
 
 
Notes:
 
(1)  The "for" votes include those giving the Chair discretion.
(2)  Total votes "for" and "against" are expressed as a percentage of the total votes cast.
(3)  A vote withheld is not a vote in law and is not counted in the calculation of the proportion of votes "for" or "against" a resolution. 
(4)  Issued Share Capital (excluding Treasury Shares): 1,078,802,358 ordinary shares.
 
The above poll results will shortly be available on WPP's website at www.wpp.com/investors. In accordance with Listing Rule 6.4.2 a copy of the resolutions, other than those concerning ordinary business of the Company, will be submitted to the FCA and will in due course be available for inspection at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism
 
 
Balbir Kelly-Bisla
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: 08 May 2026.
By:  ______________________ 
 
          Balbir Kelly-Bisla
 
          Company Secretary
 

FAQ

What did WPP (WPP) shareholders approve at the May 2026 AGM?

Shareholders approved all 20 resolutions at WPP’s AGM, including the 2025 Annual Report and Accounts, the final dividend, re-election or election of all proposed directors, auditor re-appointment, authority to allot securities, share buybacks and disapplication of pre-emption rights.

How did WPP (WPP) shareholders vote on executive compensation resolutions?

WPP’s Compensation Committee report received 75.84% support and the Directors' Compensation Policy received 74.92% support. Both resolutions passed but fell below the 80% support level referenced in the UK Corporate Governance Code, prompting planned shareholder engagement by the Board.

What level of support did WPP (WPP) receive for its dividend resolution?

The resolution to declare a final dividend was strongly supported, with 905,482,063 votes in favour and 525,816 votes against, representing 99.94% support of votes cast. Only 57,563 votes were withheld, indicating broad shareholder backing for the dividend proposal.

Were WPP (WPP) directors re-elected with strong shareholder support?

Yes. Each named director standing for election or re-election received clear majorities. For example, Angela Ahrendts received 96.37% of votes cast in favour, and Philip Jansen received 99.04% support, indicating solid shareholder confidence in the board’s composition.

What capital authorities did WPP (WPP) shareholders grant at the AGM?

Shareholders approved authorising directors to allot relevant securities, authorising the company to purchase its own shares, and disapplying pre-emption rights, including for specified acquisitions and capital investments. These resolutions all received strong majorities in favour at the May 2026 AGM.

What is WPP (WPP) planning after the lower support on pay resolutions?

Because support for the Compensation Committee report and Directors' Compensation Policy was below the UK Code’s 80% reference level, WPP’s Board will engage with major shareholders who did not support these resolutions and provide an update on those discussions within six months of the AGM.