WPP announced the appointment of Cindy Rose as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 September 2025. She will succeed Mark Read, who will step down on the same date and continue to support Cindy through the leadership transition until the end of the year.
Cindy Rose brings a wealth of global leadership experience across technology, telecommunications, media, entertainment, and creative industries. She currently serves as Chief Operating Officer, Global Enterprise at Microsoft, where she works with some of the world’s largest companies to drive business transformation through digital technology and AI. Over the past nine years, she has held several senior roles at Microsoft, including President of Microsoft Western Europe and CEO of Microsoft UK. Her previous leadership positions include Managing Director at Vodafone UK, Executive Director at Virgin Media, and Senior Vice President & Managing Director of Disney Interactive Media Group, EMEA during her 15-year tenure at The Walt Disney Company.
Cindy has served as a Non-Executive Director on the WPP Board since 2019. She is a graduate of Columbia University and New York Law School, and currently sits on the advisory boards of Imperial College Business School and McLaren Racing. A dual citizen of the UK and the US, she will be based in both London and New York. Cindy was awarded an OBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for her contributions to the UK technology sector.
Philip Jansen, Chair of WPP, said:
“Cindy is an outstanding and inspirational business leader with extensive experience at some of the world’s most recognised companies and a track record of growing large-scale businesses. She has led multi-billion-dollar operations across the UK, EMEA and globally, built enduring client relationships and delivered growth in both enterprise and consumer environments.
“Cindy has supported the digital transformation of large enterprises around the world – including embracing AI to create new customer experiences, business models and revenue streams. Her expertise in this landscape will be hugely valuable to WPP as the industry navigates fundamental changes and macroeconomic uncertainty. Cindy’s appointment follows a thorough selection process that considered both internal and external candidates. As an existing Board member she understands our business and the needs of our clients, and we look forward to working with her in her new role as CEO.
“As he hands over to Cindy, I would like to reiterate my sincere thanks to Mark 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. On behalf of the Board and the company as a whole I wish him all the very best for the future.”
Cindy Rose said:
“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.
“There are so many opportunities ahead for WPP. We have and continue to build market-leading AI capabilities, alongside an unrivalled reputation for creative excellence and a preeminent client list. WPP has the most brilliant, talented, creative people and I can’t wait to write the company’s next chapter together.
“I am grateful to Mark for his many contributions to the business over the years and I look forward to working together to ensure a smooth handover.”
Mark Read said:
“Having worked closely with Cindy for the last six years, I am delighted to see her appointed as CEO of WPP. 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.”
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