Overview

• Mark Read, who has spent 30 years at WPP including seven as CEO, will step down on December 31, 2025, and the board has begun the search for his successor.
• The FTSE 100-listed group’s shares have tumbled more than 30% this year following a 1% drop in like-for-like net revenue during 2024.
• WPP lost its status as the world’s biggest advertising firm last year after significant client defections in the UK, US and China.
• Board chair Philip Jansen praised Read for transforming WPP into a modern marketing leader by deepening the company’s AI, data and technology capabilities.
• The company has committed £300 million to its AI-powered WPP Open platform and is tapping its GroupM media division to bolster future growth.