WPP COO Andrew Scott to Retire, Ushering in Further Leadership Transition
NEW YORK - August 29, 2024 – WPP, the global advertising and marketing giant, announced today that Chief Operating Officer Andrew Scott will retire at the end of the year, marking the latest in a series of significant leadership changes at the company. Scott, a veteran of WPP with 27 years of service, will transition to a senior advisory role assisting incoming CEO Cindy Rose and other senior executives with strategy execution.
Scott has served as WPP’s COO as 2018, responsible for overseeing the company’s operational structure and spearheading key acquisitions. He initially joined WPP in 1999 as a director of corporate development and was appointed to the board in 2023.
“After 27 years at WPP,and at a time of transition for the business,it feels like the right moment to make this change,” Scott stated. He expressed confidence in Rose’s leadership, noting thier long-standing working relationship as board members. “I’m excited for the future of WPP under her leadership.”
Throughout his tenure, scott played a pivotal role in shaping WPP’s portfolio through strategic acquisitions, including AI technology firm Satalia and data and AI specialist InfoSum. He was also instrumental in the successful sales of 60% of Kantar to Bain Capital and FGS Global to KKR.
Outgoing CEO Mark Read lauded Scott’s contributions, stating, “Few people have done more than andrew to shape WPP and to drive its success over the last three decades.He has been a brilliant partner… and has made a tremendous contribution in his role as chief operating officer.”
Scott’s departure follows Read’s announcement in June that he would step down as CEO on September 1
