WPP plc 6-K, filed Oct 26, 2020
WPP plc (WPP)
6-K
2020-10-26
For: 2020-10-26
View Original
Added on
April 12, 2026
About this 6-K
WPP plc filed this 6-K on October 26, 2020.
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 October 2020
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
In
connection with the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 (the “Reform Act”), WPP plc and its
subsidiaries (the “Company”) may include
forward-looking statements (as defined in the Reform Act) 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, projections and anticipated future economic
performance based on assumptions and the like that are subject to
risks and uncertainties. As such, actual results or outcomes may
differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking
statements. Important factors that may cause actual results to
differ include but are not limited to: the unanticipated loss of a
material client or key personnel, delays or reductions in client
advertising budgets, shifts in industry rates of compensation,
regulatory compliance costs or litigation, natural disasters or
acts of terrorism, the Company’s exposure to changes in the
values of major currencies other than the UK pound sterling
(because a substantial portion of its revenues are derived and
costs incurred outside of the United Kingdom) 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 Form 20-F for the
year ended 31 December 2019, 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 the
oral or written public statements should not be regarded as a
representation by the Company that the Company’s plans and
objectives will be achieved.
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
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Exhibit
No.
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Description
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1
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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26 October 2020
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WPP PLC ("WPP")
WPP appoints Dr. Ya-Qin Zhang to the Board
WPP today announces the appointment of Dr. Ya-Qin Zhang to its
Board as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 January
2021.
A world-renowned technologist, scientist and entrepreneur, Dr.
Zhang served as President of Baidu Inc, the global internet
services and AI company headquartered in Beijing, between 2014 and
2019. As President, he oversaw the company's overall technologies,
emerging businesses and global operations. Prior to joining Baidu,
he held several key positions during his 16-year tenure with
Microsoft, both in the US and in China, including Corporate Vice
President, Chairman of Microsoft China, Managing Director of
Microsoft Research Asia, and Chairman of Microsoft Asia R&D
group.
He has made outstanding contributions to the internet and software
industry including, at Microsoft, building one of the world's
premier R&D centres with over 3,000 scientists and engineers in
multimedia, computer vision, AI/machine learning, speech
recognition and machine translation. At Baidu, he played a pivotal
role in moving the company to new frontiers including cloud
computing, autonomous driving, quantum computing, and AI/machine
learning systems.
He was recently appointed Chair Professor of AI Science at Tsinghua
University, China and is the founding Dean of the Institute for AI
Industry Research at the same university. Dr. Zhang became a Fellow
of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers at the age
of 31, making him the youngest scientist to win this honour in the
100-year history of the organisation. He is also a Fellow of
American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a Foreign Fellow of
Australia National Academy of Technology and
Engineering.
Dr. Zhang currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of Fortescue
Metals Group, an Australian global leader in the iron ore industry,
and is a Non-Executive Director of AsiaInfo Technologies Limited, a
Hong Kong-listed 5G technology and telecommunications software
product and solutions provider, and a Non-Executive Director of
ChinaSoft International limited, a Hong Kong-listed global software
and IT services company.
Commenting on the appointment, Roberto Quarta, Chairman of WPP,
said: "Dr. Zhang is one of the world's most celebrated
technologists and business leaders. With his diverse career
experience which includes leadership roles at both US and Chinese
companies, and his particular understanding of the changing
consumer technology landscape within China, he will make an
extremely valuable contribution to the WPP Board."
Dr. Zhang said: "I am very excited to be joining WPP, which is a
truly global organisation and a leader in its field. I look forward
to working with the team as the company embraces future
technologies and continues to develop its business in markets
around the world."
OAM: Additional Regulatory Information
WPP LEI: 549300LSGBXPYHXGDT93
Balbir Kelly-Bisla
Company Secretary
26 October 2020
Notes
1.
As Non-Executive Director of WPP plc, Dr. Ya-Qin
Zhang will receive standard annual fees
of £85,000 per annum.
2. The
Board has determined that Dr. Zhang will be an independent
Non-Executive Director, in accordance with
the UK Corporate Governance Code.
3. In
addition to the above, the following directorships held by Dr.
Zhang are disclosed in accordance with Listing Rule
9.6.13R:
-
2013 to 2015 Non-Executive Director of Autohome, a Nasdaq-listed
online car sales and services provider
-
2014 to 2017 Non-Executive Director of China Digital Video, a Hong
Kong-listed digital video company
-
2014 to 2019 Non-Executive Director of Tarena, a Nasdaq-listed
education company
Further information
Chris Wade, WPP +44 (0)20 7282 4600
About WPP
WPP is a creative transformation company. We use the power of
creativity to build better futures for our people, clients and
communities. For more information, visit www.wpp.com.
ENDS
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.
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WPP PLC
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(Registrant)
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Date:
26 October 2020.
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By:
______________________
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Balbir
Kelly-Bisla
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Company
Secretary
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