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Segment information
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
General Information and Statement of IFRS Compliance [Abstract]  
Segment information
2. Segment information
The Group is a leading worldwide creative transformation organisation offering national and multinational clients a comprehensive range of communications, experience, commerce and technology services. Substantially all of the Group’s revenue is from contracts with customers.
Reportable segments
The Group is organised into three reportable segments – Global Integrated Agencies, Public Relations and Specialist Agencies.

IFRS 8 Operating Segments requires operating segments to be identified on the same basis as is used internally for the review of performance and allocation of resources by the Group’s Chief Executive Officer (the Chief Operating Decision Maker). Provided certain quantitative and qualitative criteria are fulfilled, IFRS 8 permits aggregation of these components into reportable segments for the purposes of disclosure in the Group’s financial statements. In assessing the Group’s reportable segments, which includes the aggregation of certain operating segments, the Directors have had regard to the similar economic characteristics of certain operating segments, their shared client bases, the similar nature of their products or services and their long-term margins, amongst other factors.

Reported contributions were as follows:
Revenue2
Revenue
less
pass-through
costs3
Headline
operating
profit4
£m£m£m
2023
Global Integrated Agencies12,594.9 9,808.2 1,474.3 
Public Relations1,262.2 1,180.0 191.1 
Specialist Agencies987.7 871.5 84.8 
14,844.8 1,750.2 
20221
Global Integrated Agencies12,191.9 9,743.6 1,433.4 
Public Relations1,232.4 1,161.2 191.9 
Specialist Agencies1,004.4 894.5 116.5 
14,428.7 1,741.8 
20211
Global Integrated Agencies10,887.6 8,680.4 1,221.2 
Public Relations963.5 914.2 144.6 
Specialist Agencies950.0 802.6 127.7 
12,801.1 1,493.5 
Notes
1Prior year figures have been re-presented to reflect the reallocation of a number of businesses between Global Integrated Agencies, Specialist Agencies and Public Relations.
2Intersegment sales have not been separately disclosed as they are not material.
3Revenue less pass-through costs is revenue less media and other pass-through costs. Pass-through costs comprise fees paid to external suppliers where they are engaged to perform part or all of a specific project and are charged directly to clients, predominantly media costs. See note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for more details of the pass-through costs.
4A reconciliation from reported profit before tax to headline operating profit is provided in note 30.
Share-based
payments
Capital
additions2
Depreciation
and
amortisation3
Goodwill
impairment
Earnings/(loss)
from associates
Interests in
associates and
joint ventures
£m£m£m£m£m£m
2023
Global Integrated Agencies118.9 180.4 362.8 40.3 56.4 93.1 
Public Relations14.3 15.4 40.0 — 0.2 — 
Specialist Agencies6.9 21.4 43.9 23.3 13.6 193.4 
140.1 217.2 446.7 63.6 70.2 286.5 
20221
Global Integrated Agencies100.7 193.8 373.0 — 10.8 80.1 
Public Relations14.4 11.1 36.7 3.7 0.5 0.1 
Specialist Agencies6.9 18.4 41.3 34.2 (71.7)224.9 
122.0 223.3 451.0 37.9 (60.4)305.1 
20211
Global Integrated Agencies92.5 253.1 374.7 — 22.7 115.2 
Public Relations4.8 18.0 28.2 — 1.7 8.0 
Specialist Agencies2.3 22.0 41.1 1.8 (0.6)289.7 
99.6 293.1 444.0 1.8 23.8 412.9 
Notes
1Prior year figures have been re-presented to reflect the reallocation of a number of businesses between Global Integrated Agencies, Specialist Agencies and Public Relations.
2Capital additions include purchases of property, plant and equipment and other intangible assets (including capitalised computer software).
3Depreciation of property, plant and equipment, depreciation of right-of-use assets and amortisation of other intangible assets.
Contributions by geographical area were as follows:
202320222021
£m£m£m
Revenue1
North America2
5,527.6 5,549.5 4,494.2 
United Kingdom2,155.4 2,003.8 1,866.9 
Western Continental Europe3,037.2 2,876.2 2,786.3 
Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa & Middle East and Central & Eastern Europe4,124.6 3,999.2 3,653.7 
14,844.8 14,428.7 12,801.1 
Revenue less pass-through costs3
North America2
4,556.3 4,688.1 3,849.2 
United Kingdom1,626.3 1,537.2 1,414.3 
Western Continental Europe2,410.5 2,318.5 2,225.4 
Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa & Middle East and Central & Eastern Europe3,266.6 3,255.5 2,908.3 
Headline operating profit4
North America2
834.3 770.4 655.7 
United Kingdom214.5 187.1 180.9 
Western Continental Europe258.4 301.3 288.6 
Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa & Middle East and Central & Eastern Europe443.0 483.0 368.3 
1,750.2 1,741.8 1,493.5 
Notes
1Intersegment sales have not been separately disclosed as they are not material.
2North America includes the United States with revenue of £5,187.1 million (2022: £5,230.9 million, 2021: £4,220.8 million), revenue less pass-through costs of £4,270.6 million (2022: £4,402.0 million, 2021: £3,597.4 million) and headline operating profit of £785.4 million (2022: £727.6 million, 2021: £615.2 million).
3Revenue less pass-through costs is revenue less media and other pass-through costs. Pass-through costs comprise fees paid to external suppliers where they are engaged to perform part or all of a specific project and are charged directly to clients, predominantly media costs. See note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for more details of the pass-through costs.
4A reconciliation from reported profit before tax to headline operating profit is provided in note 30.
20232022
£m£m
Non-current assets1
North America2
5,217.6 5,896.4 
United Kingdom1,669.7 1,556.2 
Western Continental Europe2,695.5 2,797.9 
Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa & Middle East and Central & Eastern Europe2,739.3 3,151.0 
12,322.1 13,401.5 
Notes
1Non-current assets excluding financial instruments and deferred tax.
2North America includes the United States with non-current assets of £5,113.9 million (2022: £5,379.5 million).