WPP Picks Microsoft's Cindy Rose as New CEO

WPP has chosen its new Chief Executive: Cindy Rose, currently COO, Global Enterprise at Microsoft, will start in the role from September 1st. Mark Read will continue in a supporting role until the end of this year, to smooth the transition, although Rose has served as an NED of WPP since 2019.

Rose has spent the last nine years in senior leadership positions at Microsoft: prior to starting in her current role in March 2023 she was President of Microsoft Western Europe and CEO of Microsoft UK. Before this she worked as MD of the UK consumer business at Vodafone, and as Executive Director of Digital Entertainment and Media Sales at Virgin Media. Earlier she spent fifteen years at The Walt Disney Company, latterly as SVP and Managing Director of Disney Interactive Media Group, EMEA. A graduate of Columbia University and New York Law School, and an Advisory Board Member at Imperial College Business School in London and McLaren Racing, she holds British and American citizenship and will be based in both London and New York.

'Having worked closely with Cindy for the last six years, I am delighted to see her appointed as CEO of WPP' says Read. 'From her time on the Board, she has real insight into our business and knows many of our clients, people and partners around the world. She brings deep experience of technology and AI and its transformational impact on business, and has successfully run large global organisations with talent at their core. After seven years as CEO, I know that I am leaving WPP in excellent hands.'

Rose herself comments: 'WPP is a company I know and love - not only from my six years on the Board but as a client and partner for many years before that - and I couldn't be happier or more excited to be appointed as CEO. I began my career in the creative industries and this feels like coming home.'

WPP Chair Philip Jansen thanked Read for 'his tireless commitment during more than 30 years with WPP and in particular the progress he has made to modernise, simplify and transform the company over the last seven years as CEO.'

Group home page: www.wpp.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.