WPP has confirmed that Andrew Scott will retire as Chief Operating Officer and from the Board at the end of the year. During the transition period, he will work with incoming CEO Cindy Rose and will continue as Senior Advisor to hand over his responsibilities to other senior executives and support strategy execution.
Scott joined WPP in 1999 as Director of Corporate Development and held multiple senior roles, including Chief Operating Officer for Europe. He was appointed global Chief Operating Officer in 2018, where he led WPP’s country structure in key markets. In 2023, he was appointed to the Board.
Throughout his time at WPP, Scott has been instrumental in the company’s development, leading WPP’s M&A activity that shaped the current business. Recent acquisitions include Satalia and InfoSum, which strengthened WPP’s position in AI, data, and technology. He has also managed strategic disposals, including the sale of 60% of Kantar to Bain Capital and the sale of FGS Global to KKR.
Mark Read, outgoing CEO of WPP, said,“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 to me and the wider leadership team throughout and has made a tremendous contribution to WPP in his most recent role as Chief Operating Officer.”
Andrew Scott, COO, WPP, added,“After 27 years at WPP, and at a time of transition for the business, it feels like the right moment to make this change. I’ve known Cindy for a long time and worked closely with her on the Board of WPP, and I’m excited for the future of WPP under her leadership. I’d also like to thank Mark and the rest of the team for all the support they’ve given me over the years.”
