WPP joins up with Chinese internet services firm

Advertising giant WPP has signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese internet services firm Tencent to create a social innovation and ideation lab.

The China Social Marketing Lab will develop enhanced solutions that cater to clients and their target audiences. Through knowledge sharing, the collaboration will harness technology, analytics and creative input to build social ideas and campaigns for Tencent's QQ and Weixin/WeChat platforms.

WPP’s founder and chief executive officer, Martin Sorrell, said: “This partnership combines the best of talent and technology within WPP and Tencent. Fostering innovation in the social sphere is key in today's world of hyper-connectivity. Collaborating with partners and clients is a strategic way forward for WPP and our agencies to create stronger products for better engaging end-users."

The MOU was signed on the sidelines of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.