A former chief investment officer at WPP Media China faces life in prison after a bribery conviction. Several other ex-employees received shorter sentences. The company says it cooperated with authorities.
Media and publishing professionals tracking compliance risks in China are watching closely as Di Fei, former chief investment officer at WPP Media China, was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in a major bribery and kickback scheme. The case highlights the potential legal and operational consequences for companies and executives in the region.
Chinese authorities began investigating the scandal in 2023, focusing on activities that occurred when WPP Media operated under the name GroupM. According to reports, Di Fei and other employees were found to have directed $176 million in media investments in exchange for undisclosed payments. While Di Fei received a life sentence and is currently appealing, several other former WPP employees were convicted and given lighter sentences.
WPP Media stated that it was not a party to the legal proceedings but fully cooperated with authorities throughout the investigation. The company emphasized that it was not under investigation itself. During the early stages of the probe, then GroupM China CEO Patrick Xu was questioned by police but not detained. Xu, who also served as WPP’s country manager for China, left the company in 2024 amid the fallout from the scandal.
A spokesperson for WPP Media said the company respects the court’s decision and reiterated its cooperation with the authorities.
WPP plc is one of the world’s largest advertising and media holding companies, with operations in over 100 countries and more than 100,000 employees as of 2026. The company reported revenues exceeding $17 billion in its most recent annual filings, with China representing a significant market for its media and advertising services.
