WPP ScanGroup Plc, a listed marketing and communications firm, has posted a half–year net loss of KSh 254 million, down from a net loss of KSh 208.3 million over a similar period last year.
WPP ScanGroup has also seen its pre-tax loss deepen to KSh 227.5 million at the end of the first six months of this year, compared to a KSh 173.6 million in H1 2025.
The firm has been in a 5-year battle with its parent firm, UK based WPP Plc, for control of the Kenyan subsidiary founded by Bharat Thakrar. Disruptors that have since benefitted from troubles at WPP ScanGroup include The Partnership Africa and GroupM. While WPP has the largest network, clients have shifted to other outfits.
WPP ScanGroup Boardroom fights
While the founder of ScanAd continues to fight with the Board of WPP ScanGroup, which allegedly engineered his ouster as CEO, the business has been bleeding from wrangle wounds.
On the list of Big ticket clients that the PR firm has lost over the wrangling a long period of time includes KCB, Equity, NCBA and Airtel. The firm has also since sold its PR business in Nigeria, Tanzania and South Africa.
Gross profit declined as lower client spending and the full-year impact of client attrition across key accounts weighed on performance.
WPP ScanGroup H1 2026 Financials.
- Loss before tax: KSh 227.5 million from KSh 173 million in H1 2025.
- Loss per share: KSh 0.56 from KSh 0.46 in H1 2025
- No Interim dividend
- Cash and equivalents: down 55.9% to KSh 503.3 million
- Net interest income: declined 69.5% to KSh 28.1 million
- Loss for the period: KSh 254.0million from KSh 208.3 million in H1 2025
- Total assets: shrunk 12.3% to KSh 5.8 billion
- Total equity: fell 17.4% to KSh 3.8 billion.
- Gross profit: down 33.7% to KSh 539.7 million
The Board cites a challenging business environment to lower advertising spend as well as loss of several client accounts. In its outlook, the board said it is executing a focused two-year strategy aimed at restoring the business to break even by 2027 and back to profitability.
The Group plans to strengthening its operational performance, enhance cash generation, improve working capital efficiency and support growth in the second half of the year through huge investments in data, technology and AI-enabled solutions.
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