New Chapter for WPP as Cindy Rose Becomes CEO

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WPP—one of the world’s “Big Five” communications holding groups, once shaped by legendary figures like Sir Martin Sorrell and more recently led by Mark Read—is entering a new chapter. 

The company has appointed Cindy Rose as CEO, effective September 1, 2025.

Rose succeeds Read, who steps down after seven years as chief executive and more than three decades with the group. He will stay on through year-end to ease the transition.

A leader built for transformation

Rose arrives with deep experience across technology, media, telecoms and creative industries.

Most recently Microsoft’s chief operating officer for global enterprise, she helped Fortune 500 clients harness digital technology and AI to drive transformation.

Prior to that, she headed Microsoft Western Europe and served as CEO of Microsoft UK.

Her résumé also includes senior roles at Vodafone, Virgin Media, and a 15-year run at The Walt Disney Company, where she rose to senior vice president and MD of Disney Interactive Media Group EMEA. A WPP board member since 2019, she holds an OBE for services to UK technology.

Industry confidence

Philip Jansen, chair of WPP, called Rose “an outstanding leader with a track record of running multi-billion-dollar operations and helping enterprises embrace AI to create new models and growth.”

He credited her board experience as a strong advantage in navigating a company the size and complexity of WPP.

On Read’s departure, Jansen highlighted his “tireless commitment to modernising and simplifying WPP” during his tenure.

Read himself said he was “delighted” to see Rose take over, noting her “deep experience of technology and AI” and affirming that he leaves the company “in excellent hands.”

The next chapter

For her part, Rose described WPP as “a company I know and love” and said the appointment feels like “coming home” to the creative industries where she began her career.

She pointed to AI, creative excellence and WPP’s client list as foundations for the group’s future, adding: “We have the most brilliant, talented, creative people and I can’t wait to write the company’s next chapter together.”

Rose’s appointment signals more than just a change of guard. It’s WPP betting that the next era of growth—and survival—depends on mastering the fusion of creativity and technology, particularly AI. Her background makes her uniquely suited to lead at this crossroads.

The industry will be watching: if WPP pulls this off, it could redefine what an ad giant looks like in the AI age.