WPP has announced the appointment of Cindy Rose as chief executive officer. Rose will succeed Mark Read who will step down as CEO effective 1 September 2025. 

A statement from WPP revealed that Read will be working alongside Rose to support the transition till the end of the year.
Rose moves from Microsoft, where she spent nine years, and was most recently COO, global enterprise sales. She has been on the WPP board as a non-executive director since 2019.

Philip Jansen, chairperson, 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."

He added, “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.”

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 added, “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.”

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.”

Rose has also worked with Vodafone, Virgin Media and The Walt Disney Company.