WPP Announces Leadership Transition at AKQA

WPP today announces that 30 years after founding AKQA, Ajaz Ahmed has resigned as CEO of AKQA Group.

A further announcement regarding Ajaz’s successor will be made in due course. In the interim, AKQA Group will be led operationally by the existing leadership team at AKQA and Grey, with WPP Chief Technology Officer Stephan Pretorius overseeing the business in the role of interim chair. 

Ajaz founded AKQA in 1994 and has been its CEO for 30 years. WPP acquired AKQA in 2012, and since 2020, it has operated alongside sister agency Grey within the AKQA Group. 

AKQA has built a reputation as a pioneering innovation agency and is known for delivering cutting-edge, technology-enabled products and services to many leading brands and organisations, receiving widespread global recognition for creative excellence and breakthrough work. Under Ajaz’s leadership, AKQA has achieved the distinction of winning Agency of the Year awards 83 times. AKQA’s recent achievement of winning 11 Most Loved Workplace awards highlights its commitment to developing a strong and positive employee culture.

Ajaz Ahmed said, “Serving AKQA’s team, clients and values over the past 30 years has been the greatest honour of my life. Founding AKQA at a young age was the start of an incredible journey, and if destiny allows, I look forward to another 30 years of meaningful work and making a difference. I’m tremendously energised about the adventures ahead and the opportunity to do something new.”

Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said, “Under Ajaz’s leadership AKQA has become one of the world’s most recognised and highly regarded agencies. It’s a brilliant business with many extremely talented people around the world. With its exceptional global team, capabilities and expertise, AKQA is well-positioned for continued success and we thank Ajaz for his vision and contribution to the business.”

Ajaz continues to serve on the boards of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Virgin Unite founded by Sir Richard Branson and Mission 44 founded by Sir Lewis Hamilton. In 2022, Ajaz won the Spear’s Impact Award recognising his charitable giving and philanthropy.