Mark Read’s decision to leave WPP has prompted major clients to reconsider their relationships with the holding company. While some brands had already grown frustrated with WPP’s slow pace of change—despite efforts to streamline teams, integrate operations, and modernize systems—Read’s exit has opened a window for reassessment rather than immediate departure.
A senior marketer at one WPP client, speaking anonymously, said the departure does not necessarily mark the end of their partnership. Instead, it presents an opportunity to see if WPP can finally deliver the urgency and accountability it has long lacked.
Clients’ dissatisfaction is widespread, reflecting frustration with large agency structures that promise transformation but often deliver incremental improvements, delayed timelines, and limited insights into advertising’s business impact. Compounded by legacy infrastructure, internal silos, and competition from agile, tech-savvy rivals, WPP faces significant challenges.
With Read’s exit and key clients like Mars scaling back, WPP must prioritize responsiveness to survive. For one major advertiser, this moment is a pause to observe WPP’s next moves rather than an immediate exit. Any future review would focus on evaluating WPP’s renewed vision to better meet client needs.
However, not all clients share this cautious optimism. Some marketers express concerns about WPP’s stability amid ongoing issues and question whether new leadership will alleviate or exacerbate challenges.
Read inherited a holding company burdened by slow-moving systems and fragmented teams. Despite efforts to merge agencies and modernize, the pace of change often fell short of client expectations, leading brands such as Coca-Cola, Mars, Kimberly-Clark, Starbucks, and Pfizer to reduce or relocate their business.
The incoming CEO faces pressure to enact immediate improvements at a critical juncture. Consultants note a “wait and see” attitude among clients, balancing hopes for enhanced attention against fears of further disruption.
Ultimately, for chief marketing officers, agency instability translates directly to leverage—getting what they need when they need it. Read’s departure sharpens this focus but does not alter the fundamental demands clients place on WPP.
“Read brought order. The next CEO needs to bring urgency. Because right now, WPP doesn’t just need a new story—it needs a reason for clients to stick around until the next chapter.”
— Jeremy Goldman, Director, Marketing, Retail, and Tech Briefings at eMarketer