British Advertising Firm Fires Executive Detained in China Amid Anti-Espionage Campaign

The company fired the GroupM China executives who is currently detained in China on suspicion of bribery and is conducting an internal investigation into it.

Branding signage for WPP, the largest global advertising and public relations agency, at its offices in London on July 17, 2019. Toby Melville/Reuters

The British multinational advertising giant WPP has fired a China executive of its advertising procurement department who is currently detained in China along with two former employees of the firm on suspicion of bribery and is conducting an internal investigation into the matter, the company stated on Oct. 24.

The Economic Crime Investigation Division of the Shanghai Police said on Oct. 21 that three suspects from an unnamed advertising company were being detained on suspicion of bribery.