Mark Read will retire from the Board and as CEO of WPP after more than 30 years with the company, as of 31 December 2025.
Read has decided that the time is right for him to hand over to a new leader and the search for a successor is underway.
He said: “WPP is an incredible company with over 100,000 talented and creative people, wonderful clients and partners, and an unmatched presence around the world. It has been an immense privilege to serve as its CEO for the past seven years.
“When I took on this role our mission was to build a simpler, stronger business, and put structure and new energy behind our creativity and performance, powered by world-leading technology.
“I am proud that our teams across the business have delivered that exceptionally well. Our clients today rate us more highly than ever before, we now work with four of the world’s five most valuable companies, and our revenues with our biggest clients have grown consistently.
“Our business starts with creativity, and I was delighted for our teams that last year we were once again named Creative Company of the Year at Cannes Lions.
Mark Read: ‘I am excited to explore the next chapter in my life and can only thank all the brilliant people I have been lucky enough to work with over the last 30 years, and who have made possible the enormous progress we have achieved together.’
“We have also positioned WPP at the forefront of the industry with our investments in AI and, with the full launch of WPP Open this year, we are now leading the way as AI transforms marketing. We have an exceptional leadership team and a secure financial position that allows us to face the future confidently and capture the opportunities ahead.
“After seven years in the role, and with the foundations in place for WPP’s continued success, I feel it is the right time to hand over the leadership of this amazing company.
“I am excited to explore the next chapter in my life and can only thank all the brilliant people I have been lucky enough to work with over the last 30 years, and who have made possible the enormous progress we have achieved together.
“I would also like to thank Phil and the rest of the Board for their steadfast support for me and the wider executive team, and I look forward to supporting them in the transition to my successor in the coming months.”
On behalf of the Board Philip Jansen, Chair of WPP, thanked Read for his contributions to the company for over 30 years as a leader, seven of which as CEO.
“During that time Mark has played a central role in transforming the Company into a world leader in modern marketing services, with deep AI, data and technology capabilities, global presence and unrivalled creative talent, setting WPP up well for longer-term success.
“We are pleased that Mark will continue to lead WPP as CEO until the end of the year, remaining focused on the execution of the Company’s growth strategy and supporting a smooth transition to his successor, once appointed.”
Read’s retirement from WPP comes after he he lead the global return to office policy at the start of the year.
“I believe that we do our best work when we are together in person. It’s easier to learn from each other, it’s a better way to mentor colleagues starting out in the industry, and it helps us win pitches as a truly integrated team,” he said at the time.
The holding company’s concerned employees hit back at Read and the global directive to return to the office four days a week with a Change.org petition. The staffers called the company’s mandate a “step backwards in supporting employee wellbeing and work-life balance” and called out the advertising company for “citing anecdotal data that either does not exist or has been misrepresented.”
While debate over the return to office policy simmered down, WPP made recently headlines after the holding company officially replaced GroupM with WPP Media as it embraces its position as a fully integrated, AI-powered media company.
Read said at the time: “The move to WPP Media continues our strategy to simplify and integrate our offer for clients. While GroupM was built for a time when media scale mattered most, WPP Media reflects the power of AI, data and technology and simpler, more integrated solutions.”
Top image: Mark Read