Morel steps aside at Wunderman

Wunderman chiefs have a new global boss to contend with after it was revealed that Daniel Morel is stepping aside to hand the reins to WPP Digital worldwide head Mark Read.
Morel (pictured) has headed up the agency for nearly 14 years but was only appointed to the additional role of global chairman in June last year. He will now become the non-executive chairman of the agency network.
WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell claims under his leadership “Wunderman has become a global powerhouse that is consistently ranked among the world’s top digital agencies”. Morel was also instrumental in overseeing the rebrand to Wunderman in 2001, after a bizarre two-year flirtation with the name Impiric, ushered in by then CEO Jay Bingle. Bingle had sought to reinvent the agency as a consultancy specialising in relationship marketing.
From February, Read will step down from the WPP board to take up the Wunderman role but will remain chief executive of WPP Digital.
Sorrell added: “After 14 highly successful years, he has decided it is the right time to pass the torch. As CEO of WPP Digital, Mark brings a wealth of knowledge in digital technology and its application to marketing services, as well as strong links with our new media partners.”
Read (right) has sat on the WPP board since 2006, having originally worked at WPP between 1989 and 1995 at the parent company and also at the agencies Ogilvy & Mather and Hill & Knowlton in London.
Read said: “Wunderman is extremely well-positioned to help clients succeed in a marketing world being reshaped by companies including Google, Facebook, Twitter and Tencent.
“It can bring clients a powerful combination of creativity, data and technology, allowing them to build much more personal connections with their customers and drive business results.
“Daniel and his team have transformed this business, and I’m looking forward to working with the people of Wunderman on the next stage of its growth.”

1 Comment on "Morel steps aside at Wunderman"