Published on: October 8, 2026
Landor has appointed James Withey as its first Global Executive Vice President of Strategy, expanding its global leadership across corporate, consumer and experience strategy.
In his new role, Withey will head Landor’s worldwide strategy team and help further develop the consultancy’s strategy offering across its three core areas. The position is intended to strengthen specialist expertise within each discipline while ensuring teams remain connected through shared standards, tools and working practices.
Withey will report to Jane Geraghty, Global Chief Executive of WPP Brand and Design and Landor, and Amal Attalah, European President of WPP Brand and Design.
Geraghty said, “James is a trusted, forward-thinking strategic adviser to our clients and is already shaping how we help brands win as AI increasingly influences the choices people make.
“His unusually diverse background gives him the breadth to see where the industry is heading and the opportunities it creates. At a moment of such significant change, he’s exactly the right person to lead our global strategy.”
Withey rejoined Landor in 2021 as Executive Director of Strategy and Innovation for EMEA before moving into the role of Global Executive Strategy Director in 2023.
With more than 25 years of experience spanning brand strategy, digital and research, Withey previously spent a decade at Landor between 2001 and 2011, including serving as Head of Strategy for consumer brands.
His wider career has included senior positions at Siegel+Gale, Futurebrand, Brash Brands and Circus.
Speaking about his new position, Withey said, “Brand strategy is becoming more important than ever. As AI makes it easier to create, replicate and optimise, the challenge for brands is to have a genuinely differentiated idea at their core – one that can guide and connect what they say, what they do and the experiences they create.”
He added, “The opportunity now is to bring greater specialist depth to the different strategic challenges our clients face, while making sure those capabilities work together. Corporate, consumer and experience strategy each demand different expertise, but ultimately they need to add up to one coherent brand. I’m incredibly excited to work with our strategy leaders and teams around the world to build on the strength we already have and shape what comes next.”
Since returning to Landor, Withey has contributed to transformation programmes for clients including A&O Shearman and LeShuttle.
Alongside his global strategy responsibilities, Withey will also oversee Landor’s agentic strategy roadmap as the consultancy continues to develop its approach to AI-led brand and business transformation.
His appointment forms part of the broader evolution of Landor and WPP’s brand and design collective. The move follows Geraghty’s appointment in March as Global Chief Executive of WPP Brand and Design and Global CEO of Landor, alongside the introduction of a new leadership structure for the division.
Read more: TBWA\Chiat\Day Appoints Lea Mastroberti as US CEO
