- WPP has named Microsoft veteran Cindy Rose as its next CEO, effective Sept. 1, in response to a press release. Current chief executive Mark Read will step down on that date and assist with the leadership transition through the top of the 12 months.
- Rose has spent nearly a decade at Microsoft where she currently serves as chief operating officer of global enterprise sales, working with firms on adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technology focused on digital transformation. Previously, she held roles at Vodafone, Virgin Media and The Walt Disney Company.
- Rose, who has British and American citizenship, has also been a non-executive director on WPP’s board since 2019. She joins WPP because the U.K.-based ad-holding group contends with steep revenue declines and client losses, in addition to pressure to master areas like AI in marketing.
WPP, which owns agencies like Ogilvy and VML, has enacted a succession plan in a quick fashion following Read’s announcement last month that he would retire at the top of the 12 months. Rose has a tall order to fill given the raft of headwinds battering the group, which earlier this week slashed its financial outlook, citing deteriorating macroeconomic conditions and failure to attain the expected amount of net-new business in the primary half.
Much speculation has surrounded Read’s substitute, with an excellent deal of discussion centered on internal candidates, corresponding to WPP Media head Brian Lesser, and industry icons like David Droga, who recently stepped down from his post at Accenture Song, the marketing services division of the Accenture consultancy. However, there was some inkling that WPP could draw from outside of the agency category altogether given its growing deal with AI and technology-driven transformation, areas where Rose suits the bill.
Despite being an external hire, the manager has built-in knowledge of the business and its top brass with six years on WPP’s board under her belt. A dual citizen, she’s going to work out of New York and London, where WPP is headquartered.
“Cindy has supported the digital transformation of large enterprises world wide – including embracing AI to create recent customer experiences, business models and revenue streams,” said Philip Jansen, chair of WPP’s board, in a press release. “Her expertise in this landscape will probably be hugely priceless to WPP because the industry navigates fundamental changes and macroeconomic uncertainty.”
WPP is in the midst of onboarding its sprawling network of agencies to an AI-powered operating system called WPP Open as AI know-how becomes an increasingly vital strategic advantage for agencies. The company can also be attempting to recuperate from a string of brutal client losses, including Mars’ recent shift of its $1.7 billion media account to rival Publicis Groupe.
“We have and proceed to construct market-leading AI capabilities, alongside an unrivalled fame for creative excellence and a preeminent client list,” said Rose in a press release.
WPP has made some moves to modernize in 2025, corresponding to acquiring the data-collaboration platform InfoSum, but its growth prospects proceed to dim. In a surprise trading update issued earlier this week, the group said it now expects like-for-like revenue less pass-through costs, a crucial measure of health, to say no between 3% and 5% in 2025, below prior expectations that foresaw growth to be flat or down 2% for the total 12 months.
Read has acted as WPP’s chief for the past seven years and was the corporate’s first leader following the departure of founder Martin Sorrell, who held the reins for over three many years. WPP’s share price has plummeted under Read’s tenure and because the agency has navigated challenges corresponding to the pandemic, inflation and the Trump administration’s chaotic trade war.
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