Last checked at 
* Q2 underlying net sales up 19.3%, beating 14.8% consensus
* Upgrades full-year forecast to 9-10% from mid single-digit
* Says clients are confident about the second half and 2022
* Shares up 3%
(Adds further comments, reaction)
By Paul Sandle
LONDON, Aug 5 (Reuters) - WPP, the world's biggest
advertising company, has recovered to 2019 business levels a
year ahead of plan as clients rush to benefit from a global
economic recovery from the pandemic, driving quarterly revenue
growth to a record high.
The owner of the Ogilvy, Grey and GroupM agencies said on
Thursday underlying net sales surged 19.3% in the second
quarter. That boosted the first-half total to 4.90 billion
pounds ($6.82 billion), up 11% year-on-year and up 0.5% on 2019.
"Clients are seeing a strong economic outlook for the second
half of the year and into next year, and they're choosing to
invest in their brands," Chief Executive Mark Read told Reuters.
"They're shifting a lot of money into digital media," he
said. "We're seeing continued growth in public relations and
public affairs given the importance of employee communications
and corporate reputation."
German online fashion retailer Zalando said on
Thursday it was spending more on marketing.
WPP upgraded its full-year underlying sales forecast to
growth of 9-10%, from a mid-single digit percentage previously,
with a headline operating margin towards the upper end of its
13.5%-14.0% guidance range.
The British group's shares, up 58% in the last year, were 3%
higher in early deals, topping the FTSE 100 index.
Its strong performance mirrors that of its peers, with
Omnicom, IPG and Publicis all beating
quarterly forecasts.
Notable wins on the creative side of the business included
Absolut vodka and Sam's Club, Read said, while on the media side
it had picked up Bumble and JP Morgan Chase.
Read, who has sought to meet clients' demands by combining
WPP's digital and data capabilities with its creative work, said
he had increased investment in staff.
"We're really focused on hiring top creative and technology
talent, but we are having to reward our people," he said.
"Last year was a tough year for many of our people, and so
we are putting through salary increases as the year goes on and
that's putting some pressure on costs.
"It's within our budgets, but we are reinvesting in people
this year."
($1 = 0.7182 pounds)
(Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Mark Potter)
