WPP Communications Chief Chris Wade Departs After 13 Years

Chris Wade, WPP’s longtime communications and company affairs chief, is leaving the holding firm after 13 years, an organization spokesperson confirmed to ADWEEK. Michael Frohlich, former Weber Shandwick EMEA CEO, will step into the position.Wade first introduced his leaving in a LinkedIn put up, and described the transfer as a voluntary determination aligned with broader adjustments underway at WPP.“After 13 fantastic, eventful years at WPP, I’ve determined it’s time for a change,” he wrote. “I’ve been contemplating what’s subsequent and, as WPP prepares for a change of its personal, it felt like an excellent second to do one thing new.”Wade used the put up to mirror on his tenure, which spanned a number of crises and milestones—from the 2017 NotPetya cyberattack, its 2018 CEO transition, to WPP’s exit from Russia in 2022. “I’m very grateful to WPP for the alternatives it has given me,” he wrote, including that he plans to take day without work with household earlier than deciding on subsequent steps. Wade additionally praised his staff and thanked the journalists who lined WPP “not solely with rigour however with care.”Wade’s exit comes throughout a turbulent interval for WPP. In latest months, the corporate has misplaced out on main enterprise alternatives. Rival Publicis Groupe received Coca-Cola’s U.S. media enterprise from WPP. It whiffed on securing Spectrum’s $450 million account, which went as a substitute to Horizon. And in June, it misplaced each Paramount’s media enterprise and Mars’ $1.7 billion media account to Publicis.WPP has additionally confronted layoffs throughout its media businesses following the rebrand of GroupM to “WPP Media.” Earlier this yr, a compulsory four-day return-to-office coverage brought about disruption on the firm’s New York headquarters, the place workers reported overcrowding and a scarcity of desks.“I’ll miss being a part of the (largely) organised chaos, I’ll miss the views from Sea Containers and three World Commerce Middle, and I’ll miss my wonderful colleagues,” Wade wrote. “However above all I’m excited to make a change and discover what comes subsequent.” In an electronic mail to WPP workers, Mark Learn praised Wade, describing how he “has constructed a contemporary communications and company affairs operate for WPP whereas tirelessly selling and defending our status.”Learn the total observe under:To CEOs and Leaders; WPP HQAfter 13 profitable years with WPP, Chris Wade has determined to step down as our Director of Communications and Company Affairs.Having achieved a lot at WPP, Chris has been contemplating what’s subsequent for him for a while and – with the broader adjustments occurring within the enterprise and following a lot dialogue between us – he felt now was the best second to maneuver on to one thing new.All through his time at WPP, and never least in periods of turbulence and international uncertainty, the corporate has benefited enormously from his deep expertise, astute judgement and steadfast help for his colleagues.Chris labored very intently with me on creating the “new WPP” – serving to to rebrand the corporate and to determine a brand new voice and tradition on the coronary heart of the enterprise rooted in respect and inclusion. His contribution was invaluable to me and to the corporate. He has additionally helped us navigate the pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine and the more and more challenged social and political setting during which we function.Over the past seven years Chris has constructed a contemporary communications and company affairs operate for WPP whereas tirelessly selling and defending our status. Our management place within the software of creativity and expertise to advertising and marketing owes an awesome deal to Chris and his staff, who’ve additionally remodeled WPP’s personal on-line and social presence – most lately driving mass engagement with our new model marketing campaign. He has additionally established a extremely efficient public affairs operation which has considerably superior our pursuits and status with policy-makers, regulators and trade our bodies.Chris is a trusted associate and buddy to numerous individuals in each a part of WPP, and he’s admired and revered throughout the enterprise. I’m personally very grateful for the help he has given me within the years earlier than and through my time as CEO, and I do know many others really feel the identical. We are going to all miss his smart counsel, his sense of humour and his unfailing dedication to the pursuits of WPP and its individuals.I’m happy to announce that Chris might be succeeded by Michael Frohlich who joins us from The Weber Shandwick Collective, the place he has held the place of International Chief Consumer Transformation Officer and EMEA CEO for the final 4 years. A lot of you’ll know Michael from his prior roles with WPP which embody main Ogilvy PR within the UK and EMEA, and subsequently the broader Ogilvy Group within the UK, the place as CEO he drove the combination of the company’s totally different advertising and marketing disciplines. Throughout that point, he was additionally a WPP consumer chief for IAG and British Airways.I’m positive you’ll give Michael a heat welcome (again) to WPP and I might be in contact when he begins to introduce him and his position extra absolutely.I do know you’ll be a part of me in thanking Chris for his big contribution to WPP. I wish to reiterate my because of him for all his recommendation and assist to me during the last seven years and to want him all the perfect for the longer term.MarkUpdate July 3 at 10:45AM ET: The article now contains WPP CEO Mark Learn’s observe to workers.