WPP chief Cindy Rose faces double exit on day one

To lose one senior executive might be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two in a week looks more like carelessness but this Oscar Wilde scenario is exactly the issue that faces new WPP global chief Cindy Rose on her first day in charge, following the resignations of both chief operating officer Andrew Scott and WPP Media’s head of data and technology, global growth, Shaun Frazao.

Scott has been at WPP since 1999, but has informed the agency that he will retire as COO and from the board at the end of the year. However, he will work with Rose during that period and thereafter as a senior advisor to help transition his various roles and responsibilities to other senior executives, as well as supporting strategy execution.

Scott joined WPP 27 years ago as director of corporate development. He held a number of other senior roles, including chief operating officer for Europe, before being appointed global chief operating officer in 2018 where his responsibilities included leading WPP’s country structure in key markets. In 2023 he was appointed to the Board.

Throughout his time with WPP Scott has been instrumental to the company’s development and growth. Leading WPP’s M&A activity, he has been responsible for many of the acquisitions that helped create the business that WPP is today, driving its new love of tech.

Most recently, acquisitions such as Satalia and InfoSum have helped to build the company’s AI, data and technology offering. Additionally, he has played a critical role in strategic disposals including the sale of 60% of Kantar to Bain Capital and the subsequent sale of FGS Global to KKR.

Scott said: “After 27 years at WPP, and at a time of transition for the business, it feels like the right moment to make this change. I’ve known Cindy for a long time and worked closely with her on the board of WPP, and I’m excited for the future of WPP under her leadership. I’d also like to thank (outgoing CEO) Mark Reed and the rest of the team for all the support they’ve given me over the years.”

Meanwhile, Frazao has also decided now is the time to leave to pursue a career in public and political affairs. As a strategist within the WPP Media business development team, he was quite clearly in a lower league than global CCO Scott, even though he had the word “global” in his title and tech and data are the agency’s new mantra.

Before joining WPP Media had held a number of public affairs roles, including as a lecturer at North-West University in South Africa. The move marks a return to this field after a decade spent in marketing and advertising.

On LinkedIn he wrote: “After a decade in marketing and advertising – seven of those years with WPP/WPP Media/Wavemaker – it’s time to close this chapter. I am saying goodbye to a company I will deeply miss, and to an industry that has shaped who I am professionally (and sometimes personally) in ways I could never have imagined.

“Looking back, it’s been a rollercoaster – the kind of ride that challenges you, excites you, and forces you to grow faster than you thought possible. WPP has the courage to pivot, to make tough decisions, and to shape the future of advertising, and I feel privileged to have been part of that journey.

“As I look forward, I’m excited to step back into a space I’ve always been passionate about. It’s a return to my roots in political communication, public affairs and data-driven impact. More on that adventure soon…

“For now, I just want to say: thank you, WPP. Thank you for the opportunities, the trust, and the friendships. I’ll miss the living hell out of you.”