WPP has announced the appointment of Cindy Rose OBE as its next Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 September 2025, succeeding Mark Read. Rose, who currently serves as Chief Operating Officer, Global Enterprise at Microsoft, brings with her decades of proven leadership across some of the world’s most influential companies, including Microsoft, Vodafone, Virgin Media, and Disney.
As a WPP board member since 2019, Rose is already deeply connected to the company’s strategy and vision. Now, she will step into the top role to guide the world’s largest marketing services group into its next chapter, with a strong focus on digital transformation and AI-driven growth. Her leadership comes at a time when the industry is evolving at unprecedented speed, demanding innovation that merges creativity, data, and technology to deliver impact at scale.
Based in both London and New York, Rose will work alongside outgoing CEO Mark Read through the transition period until year-end, ensuring both stability and momentum during this leadership change. For WPP, this moment is not only a transition of leadership but also a bold signal of intent one that places the company at the forefront of redefining how global brands engage with audiences in an era where technology and creativity must work hand in hand.
With Cindy Rose OBE at the helm, WPP is set to accelerate its journey into a future powered by intelligence, innovation, and imagination cementing its position as a leader shaping the next wave of global marketing transformation.
