# Mark Read
> Outgoing CEO, WPP (handover support through year-end 2025) at wpp
- Profile type: Person
- Profile status: baseline
- Last updated: 2026-05-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Canonical URL: https://thestateofstreaming.com/people/mark-read/
## Summary
Outgoing CEO of WPP, the London-listed advertising holding company. Read led WPP from September 2018 until stepping down on August 31, 2025, succeeded by former Microsoft executive Cindy Rose. His seven-year tenure ended amid a steep share-price decline and the loss of major accounts including Mars and Coca-Cola to rival Publicis.

## Profile facts

- Current title: Outgoing CEO, WPP (handover support through year-end 2025)
- Current company: wpp (https://thestateofstreaming.com/companies/wpp/)


## Career trajectory

- 2002-01-01 — Director of Strategy / founding leader of WPP Digital at wpp. Joined WPP as Director of Strategy; established WPP Digital, the holding company's digital practice.
- 2005-01-01 — Executive Director, WPP plc at wpp. Joined the WPP plc board as an Executive Director; concurrently CEO of WPP Digital, leading acquisitions including 24/7 Real Media and the launch of digital network POSSIBLE.
- 2015-01-01 — Global CEO, Wunderman at wpp. Took over Wunderman in January 2015, transforming it into one of WPP's flagship customer-focused digital agencies.
- 2018-04-01 — Chief Operating Officer, WPP at wpp. Returned to WPP central as COO in April 2018 following the departure of founder Sir Martin Sorrell.
- 2018-09-03 — Chief Executive Officer, WPP at wpp. Appointed CEO on September 3, 2018 after a unanimous board decision; Roberto Quarta returned to the Non-Executive Chairman role.
- 2025-07-10 — Stepdown announced at wpp. WPP announced that Read would step down as CEO effective September 1, 2025, with Microsoft executive and existing WPP non-executive director Cindy Rose succeeding him.
- 2025-08-31 — Stepped down as CEO; transition adviser through year-end at wpp. Cindy Rose became CEO on September 1, 2025; Read continued in a transition-support capacity through the end of 2025 before leaving the company on December 31, 2025.

_This page uses only public-professional information (roles, public statements, media appearances)._

## Key facts

- Appointed WPP CEO on September 3, 2018, following the departure of founder Sir Martin Sorrell. — WPP: https://www.wpp.com/en/news/2018/09/appointment-of-mark-read-as-chief-executive-officer
- Joined WPP in 2002 as Director of Strategy and founded WPP Digital, leading the holding company's digital build-out including the acquisition of 24/7 Real Media. — Exchange4media: https://www.exchange4media.com/advertising-news/mark-read-the-man-who-paved-wpps-digital-transformation-144225.html
- Cindy Rose, previously COO Global Enterprise at Microsoft and a WPP non-executive director since 2019, succeeded Read as CEO effective September 1, 2025. — Fortune: https://fortune.com/europe/2025/07/10/wpp-microsoft-executive-cindy-rose-ceo-in-turnaround-push/
- Read's exit followed major account losses to rival Publicis, including the $1.7 billion Mars Inc. global advertising account in June 2025 and the roughly $700 million Coca-Cola media account earlier the same year. — The Drum: https://www.thedrum.com/news/2025/06/10/wpp-loses-share-mars-account-rivals-publicis-and-ipg
- WPP's share price approximately halved over Read's seven-year tenure, hitting a 16-year low around the July 2025 succession announcement. — Adweek: https://www.adweek.com/agencies/wpp-ceo-mark-read-to-exit-after-7-years/


## Related

- wpp (Outgoing CEO (2018-2025); 23-year tenure across WPP Digital, Wunderman, and the holding company) — https://thestateofstreaming.com/companies/wpp/
- cindy rose (Successor as WPP CEO, effective September 1, 2025) — https://thestateofstreaming.com/people/cindy-rose/


## External coverage

- 2018-09-03 — WPP: Appointment of Mark Read as Chief Executive Officer (https://www.wpp.com/en/news/2018/09/appointment-of-mark-read-as-chief-executive-officer)
- 2025-07-10 — WPP: Chief Executive Officer Appointment (Cindy Rose to succeed Mark Read) (https://www.wpp.com/en-us/news/2025/07/chief-executive-officer-appointment)
- 2025-07-10 — Fortune: WPP names Microsoft executive Rose as CEO in turnaround push (https://fortune.com/europe/2025/07/10/wpp-microsoft-executive-cindy-rose-ceo-in-turnaround-push/)
- 2025-06-09 — Adweek: WPP CEO Mark Read to Exit After 7 Years (https://www.adweek.com/agencies/wpp-ceo-mark-read-to-exit-after-7-years/)
- 2025-08-07 — The Drum: Mark Read's handover notes: here's what's awaiting Cindy Rose as WPP CEO (https://www.thedrum.com/news/2025/08/07/mark-read-s-handover-notes-here-s-what-s-awaiting-cindy-rose-wpp-ceo)

## Profile
Read's seven-year run as WPP CEO began as a stabilization mandate after Sir Martin Sorrell's abrupt 2018 exit and ended as a turnaround mandate handed off to someone else. He spent the middle of his tenure consolidating the agency portfolio (the VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson mergers), cutting debt, and rebuilding WPP's data and technology stack. The final 18 months were defined by a different story: client losses to Publicis at the top of the roster (Mars, Coca-Cola), a profit warning, and a share price that closed his tenure roughly half of where it began. Cindy Rose, a Microsoft veteran already on WPP's board, takes over the AI-and-restructuring agenda Read was unable to finish.

## Tags

- holding-company
- advertising
- leadership-transition
- wpp

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