WPP plc has announced the appointment of Cindy Rose as its new Chief Executive Officer, with effect from 1 September 2025. Rose will take over the role from Mark Read, who will officially step down on the same day. To ensure a seamless leadership transition, Read will remain with the company and continue supporting Rose until the end of the year.

Rose brings with her a wealth of leadership experience across technology, telecoms, media, entertainment, and creative sectors. Her career includes nearly a decade in senior roles at Microsoft, where she currently serves as Chief Operating Officer for Global Enterprise. In her present position, she helps some of the world’s largest companies harness digital technologies and artificial intelligence to drive business transformation.

Prior to her current role, Rose was President of Microsoft Western Europe and earlier held the position of CEO of Microsoft UK. She has also served as Managing Director of Vodafone UK’s consumer division and as Executive Director for Digital Entertainment and Media Sales at Virgin Media. Before that, she spent 15 years at The Walt Disney Company, where she was ultimately appointed Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Disney Interactive Media Group across EMEA.

Alongside her executive career, Rose has been a Non-Executive Director on WPP’s board since 2019. She is a graduate of Columbia University and New York Law School and also serves on advisory boards for Imperial College Business School and McLaren Racing. Holding dual British and American citizenship, she will be based in both London and New York in her new role. In recognition of her services to UK technology, she was awarded an OBE in the 2019 New Year Honours.

Philip Jansen, Chair of WPP, commented: “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,” he said.

He added, “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.”

Speaking about her appointment, 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.”

She said, “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,” she added.

Mark Read also shared his thoughts on the transition: “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.”

He added, “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.”

Rose’s appointment comes at a time of considerable change and opportunity for WPP, as the company continues to evolve its services in line with the rapidly transforming media and technology landscape.