World’s largest advertising agency pays SEC US$19m to settle bribery charges

By Keith Nuthall

London and New York-based WPP, the world’s largest advertising group, has agreed to pay US$19.2 million to resolve charges laid by the US Securities & Exchange Commission that it breached the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The SEC alleged WPP allowed overseas subsidiaries to bribe clients and breach accounting controls.