More changes are afoot at WPP, as chief operating officer and board member Andrew Scott announced on Friday (Aug. 29) he will retire at the end of the year.
Scott had been WPP’s COO since 2018, overseeing its operational structure and leading acquisitions. He joined the company in 1999 as a director of corporate development and was named to the board in 2023.
He will work with incoming CEO Cindy Rose as he transitions out of the company to become a senior advisor, supporting other senior executives and aiding in strategy execution.
“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 said in a statement. “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.”
During his tenure at WPP, Scott was behind acquisitions including Satalia and InfoSum. He also played a crucial role in the sale of 60% of Kantar to Bain Capital and the subsequent sale of FGS Global to KKR.
“Few people have done more than Andrew to shape WPP and to drive its success over the last three decades,” outgoing WPP CEO Mark Read said in a statement. “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.”
Scott’s upcoming departure is the latest personnel move on WPP’s C-suite. Read announced in June that after a seven-year tenure leading the company and a three-decade career there, he would step down on Monday, Sept. 1. He will also stay on as an advisor to support the transition through the end of the year.
