Microsoft tech chief to be WPP's first female global CEO

WPP has become the first marketing holding group to appoint a female CEO, handing the role to Microsoft global chief operating officer Cindy Rose, who has also been a non-executive on the WPP board for the past six years and a former client.

With a shortlist dominated by white, middle-class males, her appointment is likely to be hailed as a major breakthrough for women in the advertising and marketing industry. It also signals just how crucial technology has become to the sector.

External targets to succeed Mark Read reportedly had included the outgoing boss of Google’s EMEA region, Matt Brittin, and Informa chief Lord Stephen Carter, who began his career at WPP.

Meanwhile, internal candidates were said to include WPP Media CEO Brian Lesser and VML global boss Jon Cook, with Ogilvy global CEO Devika Bulchandani the only woman on the list.

Some have even suggested that T&P’s Johnny Hornby and Ogilvy Group UK’s James Murphy might be in with a shout, while VML president Mel Edwards, who worked closely with Read and was seen by some as a potential candidate.

Rose will join WPP on September 1, with Read helping with the handover until the end of the year. She has dual citizenship for the UK and US and will spend her time between New York and London.

Rose has been at Microsoft for the past nine years; she was previously president of Microsoft Western Europe and CEO of Microsoft UK. She has also held senior tech and managemet roles at Vodafone, Virgin Media, The Walt Disney Company and Disney Interactive Media Group.

She said: “WPP is a company I know and love – not only from my six years on the board but as a client and partner for many years before that – and I couldn’t be happier or more excited to be appointed as CEO. I began my career in the creative industries and this feels like coming home.

“There are so many opportunities ahead for WPP. We have and continue to build market-leading AI capabilities, alongside an unrivalled reputation for creative excellence and a preeminent client list. WPP has the most brilliant, talented, creative people and I can’t wait to write the company’s next chapter together.”

Rose is also an advisory board member at Imperial College Business School in London and McLaren Racing and received an OBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for her contributions to the UK technology sector.

WPP chair Philip Jansen said: “Cindy Rose is an outstanding and inspirational business leader with extensive experience at some of the world’s most recognised companies and a track record of growing large-scale businesses. She has led multi-billion-dollar operations across the UK, EMEA and globally, built enduring client relationships and delivered growth in both enterprise and consumer environments.

“Rose has supported the digital transformation of large enterprises around the world – including embracing AI to create new customer experiences, business models and revenue streams. Her expertise in this landscape will be hugely valuable to WPP as the industry navigates fundamental changes and macroeconomic uncertainty. Rose’s appointment follows a thorough selection process that considered both internal and external candidates. As an existing Board member she understands our business and the needs of our clients, and we look forward to working with her in her new role as CEO.”