Walmart takes online ad sales in house, dealing huge blow to WPP unit
Walmart is taking website ad sales and related analytics work handled by WPP's Triad in house, affecting hundreds of jobs and eliminating the bulk of work for a business WPP acquired less than three years ago.
Triad has told employees it will enforce non-compete clauses of their contracts, even to prevent them moving to Walmart Media Group, which is taking over the ad operations, according to people familiar with the matter. Walmart is expected to add hundreds of employees as part of the move, these people say. The transition from Triad to Walmart is expected to last until at least May.
A Walmart spokeswoman confirmed the account move but declined to comment on the non-compete issue. A Triad spokesman declined to comment.