Continuing its efforts to streamline operations across its global portfolio, WPP has realigned its creative agency Grey under the leadership of Ogilvy, moving it away from its current reporting structure under the AKQA Group.

Laura Maness, global CEO, Grey, will now report to Devika Bulchandani, global CEO, Ogilvy, according to reports. 

Grey will, however, continue to operate as an independent, standalone agency within the Ogilvy network.

Both Ogilvy and Grey leadership emphasised in internal memos to staff that the new structure is not a merger, but primarily a change in financial reporting, as per global reports. Ogilvy India has declined to comment on the matter.

Grey and AKQA were brought under a single group structure five years ago, however the agencies were never fully integrated. 

The move follows broader restructuring across WPP.  Last week, WPP's media arm GroupM announced in an internal email that agency brands EssenceMediacom, Mindshare, and Wavemaker will cease to operate as separate business units and will move to a single P&L.