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 put up, and described the transfer as a voluntary determination aligned with broader adjustments 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 great second to do one thing new.”
Wade used the put up to replicate 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 time without work with household earlier than deciding on subsequent steps. Wade additionally praised his crew 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 latest 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 induced 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 Middle, 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 popularity.”
Learn the total word 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 adjustments 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 assist for his colleagues.
Chris labored very intently with me on creating the “new WPP” – serving to to rebrand the corporate and to ascertain 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 atmosphere during 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 popularity. Our management place within the utility of creativity and expertise to advertising owes an excellent deal to Chris and his crew, 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 popularity with policy-makers, regulators and trade our bodies.
Chris is a trusted companion and pal 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 assist 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’ll 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 will likely 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. Lots 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 combination of the company’s completely different advertising disciplines. Throughout that point, he was additionally a WPP consumer chief for IAG and British Airways.
I’m positive you’ll give Michael a heat welcome (again) to WPP and I will likely be in contact when he begins to introduce him and his position extra absolutely.
I do know you’ll be part of me in thanking Chris for his big contribution to WPP. I wish to reiterate my due to him for all his recommendation and assist to me during the last 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 word to employees.
