• by Larissa Faw , December 5, 2018

Wunderman Thompson — the recently merged WPP entity comprised of Wunderman and J. Walter Thompson — is making changes to its North American leadership team.  

The agency is appointing Shane Atchison as NA CEO, marking a return of the executive to the WPP fold. He left digital agency Possible, where he was CEO, in the summer of 2017, shortly after the digital and ecommerce specialist was merged with Wunderman.

He joined Utah-based data company Domo as Chief Marketing Officer. 

Wunderman's current North America CEO Seth Solomons will move into a new undisclosed role at parent WPP, "where he will continue to leverage his client relationships and capabilities" according to an internal agency email.

JWT's current CEO Simon Pearce, who has been leading the agency since April, will stay through Q1 2019 to assist with the integration. 

Pearce "has done a remarkable job elevating JWT's North American offices. He will be key to our transition process," says Tamara Ingram, chairman, Wunderman Thompson. 

These changes are designed to transform the agencies into a "creative, digital and technology powerhouse," stated WPP CEO Mark Read in the internal memo.