Cindy Rose Appointed CEO of WPP, Succeeding Mark Read
Cindy Rose has been appointed as CEO of WPP, filling the role left by Mark Read following his retirement. She will commence on September 1st, 2025, with Mark formally stepping down from the CEO role on the same day.
Mark will continue to work with Cindy to support the transition until the end of the year, simultaneously retiring from his position on the WPP board December 31st.
Cindy will be based in both London and New York. She has been a non-executive director on the WPP Board since 2019.
Speaking of her new role, 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.”
Having spent the last nine years in senior leadership positions at Microsoft, Cindy comes to WPP from her current role as chief operating officer, global enterprise. Before being appointed to her current Microsoft role in March 2023, Cindy was president of Microsoft Western Europe and CEO of Microsoft UK.
Other previous roles include managing director of the UK consumer business at Vodafone and executive director of digital entertainment and media sales at Virgin Media. She also spent 15 years at The Walt Disney Company, ultimately as senior vice president and managing director of Disney Interactive Media Group, EMEA.
Philip Jansen, chair of WPP, called Cindy "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."
“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."
Outgoing CEO Mark 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.”
Philip also thanked 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," as he hands the role over.
"On behalf of the Board and the company as a whole I wish him all the very best for the future,” added Philip.
Following a report released on Tuesday, WPP downgraded its full-year financial guidance following a sharper-than-expected slowdown in Q2 trading and weaker net new business wins.
The holding company said it now expects underlying revenue from its main business, excluding major client-controlled costs like media buying, to fall between -3% and -5% for the full year. That’s a downgrade from its previous forecast of flat to a 2% decline.
