WPP has appointed Cindy Rose as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1
st September 2025.A She succeeds Mark Read, who will
step down as CEO on the same date while continuing to work with Cindy to support the transition until the end of the year.
Cindy has served as a Non-Executive Director on the WPP Board since 2019. She will be based in both London and New York for this role.A
Most recently, Cindy has spent the past nine years in senior leadership positions at Microsoft, where she is currently Chief Operating Officer, Global Enterprise, and has supported global companies in their adoption of digital technology and AI to drive business transformation. Before taking on her current Microsoft role in March 2023, Cindy was President of Microsoft Western Europe and CEO of Microsoft UK.
"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," said Philip Jansen, Chair of WPP. "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."
Apart from Microsoft, Cindy's other past roles include serving as Managing Director of Vodafone's UK consumer business and Executive Director of Digital Entertainment and Media Sales at Virgin Media. She also spent 15 years at The Walt Disney Company, before exiting as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Disney Interactive Media Group, EMEA.
Commenting on the appointment, Cindy 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 concluded: "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."