Chris Wade, WPP’s longtime communications and company affairs chief, is leaving the holding firm after 13 years, an organization spokesperson confirmed to ADWEEK. Michael Frohlich, former Weber Shandwick EMEA CEO, will step into the position.
Wade first introduced his leaving in a LinkedIn submit, and described the transfer as a voluntary resolution aligned with broader modifications underway at WPP.
“After 13 great, eventful years at WPP, I’ve determined it’s time for a change,” he wrote. “I’ve been contemplating what’s subsequent and, as WPP prepares for a change of its personal, it felt like a very good second to do one thing new.”
Wade used the submit to mirror on his tenure, which spanned a number of crises and milestones—from the 2017 NotPetya cyberattack, its 2018 CEO transition, to WPP’s exit from Russia in 2022.
“I’m very grateful to WPP for the alternatives it has given me,” he wrote, including that he plans to take day without work with household earlier than deciding on subsequent steps. Wade additionally praised his workforce and thanked the journalists who lined WPP “not solely with rigour however with care.”
Wade’s exit comes throughout a turbulent interval for WPP. In current months, the corporate has misplaced out on main enterprise alternatives. Rival Publicis Groupe received Coca-Cola’s U.S. media enterprise from WPP. It whiffed on securing Spectrum’s $450 million account, which went as an alternative to Horizon. And in June, it misplaced each Paramount’s media enterprise and Mars’ $1.7 billion media account to Publicis.
WPP has additionally confronted layoffs throughout its media companies following the rebrand of GroupM to “WPP Media.” Earlier this yr, a compulsory four-day return-to-office coverage prompted disruption on the firm’s New York headquarters, the place employees reported overcrowding and a scarcity of desks.
“I’ll miss being a part of the (largely) organised chaos, I’ll miss the views from Sea Containers and three World Commerce Heart, and I’ll miss my superb colleagues,” Wade wrote. “However above all I’m excited to make a change and discover what comes subsequent.”
In an e mail to WPP employees, Mark Learn praised Wade, describing how he “has constructed a contemporary communications and company affairs operate for WPP whereas tirelessly selling and defending our fame.”
Learn the total observe beneath:
To CEOs and Leaders; WPP HQ
After 13 profitable years with WPP, Chris Wade has determined to step down as our Director of Communications and Company Affairs.
Having achieved a lot at WPP, Chris has been contemplating what’s subsequent for him for a while and – with the broader modifications occurring within the enterprise and following a lot dialogue between us – he felt now was the appropriate second to maneuver on to one thing new.
All through his time at WPP, and never least in periods of turbulence and international uncertainty, the corporate has benefited enormously from his deep expertise, astute judgement and steadfast help for his colleagues.
Chris labored very intently with me on creating the “new WPP” – serving to to rebrand the corporate and to determine a brand new voice and tradition on the coronary heart of the enterprise rooted in respect and inclusion. His contribution was invaluable to me and to the corporate. He has additionally helped us navigate the pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine and the more and more challenged social and political surroundings through which we function.
During the last seven years Chris has constructed a contemporary communications and company affairs operate for WPP whereas tirelessly selling and defending our fame. Our management place within the utility of creativity and know-how to advertising and marketing owes a terrific deal to Chris and his workforce, who’ve additionally reworked WPP’s personal on-line and social presence – most not too long ago driving mass engagement with our new model marketing campaign. He has additionally established a extremely efficient public affairs operation which has considerably superior our pursuits and fame with policy-makers, regulators and trade our bodies.
Chris is a trusted associate and good friend to numerous folks in each a part of WPP, and he’s admired and revered throughout the enterprise. I’m personally very grateful for the help he has given me within the years earlier than and through my time as CEO, and I do know many others really feel the identical. We are going to all miss his smart counsel, his sense of humour and his unfailing dedication to the pursuits of WPP and its folks.
I’m happy to announce that Chris might be succeeded by Michael Frohlich who joins us from The Weber Shandwick Collective, the place he has held the place of International Chief Consumer Transformation Officer and EMEA CEO for the final 4 years. A lot of you’ll know Michael from his prior roles with WPP which embody main Ogilvy PR within the UK and EMEA, and subsequently the broader Ogilvy Group within the UK, the place as CEO he drove the mixing of the company’s completely different advertising and marketing disciplines. Throughout that point, he was additionally a WPP shopper chief for IAG and British Airways.
I’m certain you’ll give Michael a heat welcome (again) to WPP and I might be in contact when he begins to introduce him and his position extra totally.
I do know you’ll be a part of me in thanking Chris for his enormous contribution to WPP. I need to reiterate my because of him for all his recommendation and assist to me over the past seven years and to want him all the easiest for the longer term.
Mark
Replace July 3 at 10:45AM ET: The article now consists of WPP CEO Mark Learn’s observe to employees.
