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 various angles”—as a consumer of Gray, VML, and Wunderman Thompson whereas at Vodafone, Virgin, and Microsoft; as a strategic know-how associate throughout her time at Microsoft; and as a WPP board member for the previous six years.
“You would 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 put in writing WPP’s subsequent chapter, and our subsequent chapter might be improbable.”
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 via 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, through which revenues declined 4.3% 12 months over 12 months and headcount was diminished by 7,000 staff amid consumer losses and restructuring.
“I received’t sugarcoat this: We’ve numerous 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 now have as an organization—the good individuals we now have, the multi-award-winning inventive work that we produce, our beloved company manufacturers, our wonderful purchasers, our international attain, our world-leading know-how capabilities—wow. I can’t assist however really feel enthusiastic about our future.”
Rose invited employees to a world city corridor on Sept. 4, which can happen reside from WPP’s New York headquarters, “in order that [she] can share a bit extra about [WPP’s] path of journey.” Staff will be capable to ask questions reside and through a Q+A chat or over e mail.
“I’m, as you possibly can most likely inform, tremendous excited to co-create the brand new WPP collectively,” she mentioned.
Watch the total video beneath.
