Global advertising and communications giant WPP has announced the appointment of Cindy Rose OBE as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 September 2025. She succeeds Mark Read, who will officially step down on the same date after a transformative seven-year tenure. Mark will remain with the company until the end of the year to support a smooth leadership transition.
Rose brings to WPP an exceptional breadth of experience across technology, media, telecommunications, entertainment, and creative industries, having held senior executive roles at some of the world’s most influential companies. Her appointment is widely seen as a strategic move that positions WPP at the intersection of creativity, AI, and digital transformation.
Currently serving as Chief Operating Officer, Global Enterprise at Microsoft, Rose plays a pivotal role in helping Fortune 500 companies harness digital technologies and artificial intelligence to drive large-scale business transformation. Prior to this, she held a succession of high-profile leadership roles at Microsoft including President of Microsoft Western Europe and CEO of Microsoft UK.
Her career also spans other industry heavyweights, including Vodafone, Virgin Media, and The Walt Disney Company, where she spent 15 years and rose to become Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Disney Interactive Media Group, EMEA.
Rose has been a Non-Executive Director on WPP’s Board since 2019, giving her unique insight into the company’s operations, client relationships, and creative ecosystem. She holds dual British-American citizenship and will be based in London and New York. In 2019, she was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her contributions to the UK technology sector.
Commenting on the appointment, Philip Jansen, Chair of WPP, stated:
“Cindy is an outstanding and inspirational business leader with a proven track record of growing large-scale enterprises and driving digital transformation. She brings deep expertise in AI, customer experience, and business model innovation, capabilities that will be invaluable as WPP and the broader industry navigate a period of profound change.
Her appointment follows a rigorous selection process and reflects our confidence in her ability to lead WPP into its next chapter of growth, creativity, and technological innovation.”
Reflecting on her appointment, Cindy Rose said:
“WPP is a company I know and love, not only through six years on its Board, but from years of partnership and collaboration as a client. I began my career in the creative industries, and in many ways, this feels like coming home.
WPP has world-class talent, unmatched creative reputation, and is rapidly building industry-leading AI capabilities. I am incredibly excited about what we can achieve together and grateful for the opportunity to lead the next phase of growth.”
The transition also marks the end of an era for Mark Read, who has been with WPP for more than 30 years and has served as CEO since 2018. During his tenure, he led an ambitious transformation agenda, modernising operations, simplifying the business structure, and accelerating digital adoption.
“Having worked closely with Cindy over the last six years, I am thrilled by her appointment,” Read said. “She knows the business, understands our clients and people, and brings a unique combination of creativity and technological insight. After seven fulfilling years as CEO, I am confident WPP is in excellent hands.”
Cindy Rose’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for WPP and the broader marketing services industry, as agencies continue to evolve amid AI disruption, changing consumer behaviors, and shifting global dynamics. Her blend of creative intuition and technological leadership positions WPP to thrive in a world where brand success is increasingly determined by innovation, agility, and data-driven insight.
