Mark Read: The man who paved WPP's digital transformation

Mark Read will step down as Chief Executive Officer of WPP at the end of 2025, concluding a tenure that began in September 2018 and a career that spans more than three decades within the company. 

Read joined WPP in 1989 as Corporate Development Manager and spent nearly six years in the role before moving to Booz & Company, where he worked as Principal in the Media and Entertainment Practice from 1995 to 1999. In 1999, he co-founded WebRewards, a startup in the online loyalty space, which was later sold to Bertelsmann.

He returned to WPP in 2002 as Director of Strategy and became Executive Director in 2005. During this period, he was responsible for the group’s strategic direction, key initiatives, and managing relationships with major clients. He was also involved in coordinating cross-WPP efforts. 

From 2006 to 2015, Read served as the CEO of WPP Digital, overseeing investments in and the acquisition of a number of technology and digital firms, including 24/7 Media, Blue State Digital, POSSIBLE, Rockfish, and Acceleration. He was part of the team that invested in early-stage digital companies such as Buddy Media and Omniture.

In 2015, Read was appointed CEO of Wunderman, where he led the agency for over three years. He returned to WPP in April 2018 as Chief Operating Officer and, after the departure of founder Martin Sorrell, was elevated to CEO in September 2018.

As CEO, Read undertook a wide restructuring of WPP, merging several of its legacy agencies, including the consolidation of Wunderman with J. Walter Thompson and VML with Y&R. His tenure also saw the sale of a 60% stake in Kantar to Bain Capital, part of a broader effort to reduce debt and simplify the company’s structure. He oversaw the launch of WPP Open, the company's proprietary AI-powered platform, and led investments in AI and technology to reposition WPP as a more integrated, data-driven marketing group.

Under his leadership, WPP was named Holding Company of the Year at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2023 and 2024. However, the company also faced financial headwinds, including a sharp fall in its share price, weak demand in key markets, and growing pressure from technology platforms and consulting firms. In 2024, WPP lost its position as the world’s largest advertising group by revenue to France-based Publicis Groupe.

The decision to retire was announced as part of a planned transition, and WPP’s board, chaired by Philip Jansen, has initiated the search for a successor. Read will remain in the role until the end of December 2025.