Cindy Rose addressed WPP employees for the primary time on Wednesday as she prepares to take over as CEO subsequent week, commencing her management of the holding firm as Mark Learn departs.
In a video shared with staff and obtained by ADWEEK, Rose famous her expertise with WPP “from many alternative angles”—as a shopper of Gray, VML, and Wunderman Thompson whereas at Vodafone, Virgin, and Microsoft; as a strategic expertise associate throughout her time at Microsoft; and as a WPP board member for the previous six years.
“You may say I’ve been a mega-fan of WPP for greater than 15 years now,” Rose mentioned. “I really feel so privileged and impressed to work along with all of you to jot down WPP’s subsequent chapter, and our subsequent chapter will likely be incredible.”
Rose formally takes the helm from Learn, who introduced in June that he would step down after seven years as CEO and three a long time on the firm, on Monday, Sept. 1. Learn will keep on as an advisor to assist the transition by way of the tip of the 12 months.
WPP introduced in July it had employed Rose, a Microsoft exec and WPP board member since 2018.
A brand new chapter
Rose takes the highest job at one of many world’s largest promoting companies as the corporate recovers from a difficult first half, wherein revenues declined 4.3% 12 months over 12 months and headcount was diminished by 7,000 staff amid shopper losses and restructuring.
“I received’t sugarcoat this: We’ve got a number of laborious work forward, and naturally, it received’t be simple,” Rose acknowledged within the video. “However after I take into consideration the property that we’ve got as an organization—the sensible individuals we’ve got, the multi-award-winning inventive work that we produce, our beloved company manufacturers, our wonderful shoppers, our international attain, our world-leading expertise capabilities—wow. I can not assist however really feel enthusiastic about our future.”
Rose invited employees to a world city corridor on Sept. 4, which is able to happen stay from WPP’s New York headquarters, “in order that [she] can share a bit extra about [WPP’s] path of journey.” Workers will be capable to ask questions stay and by way of a Q+A chat or over e-mail.
“I’m, as you possibly can in all probability inform, tremendous excited to co-create the brand new WPP collectively,” she mentioned.
Watch the complete video under.
