• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, September 19, 2019

Former Unilever CMO Keith Weed has joined the WPP board as a nonexecutive member.

Weed was Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at the CPG giant for nine years, retiring in May. He’s credited with the leading the company’s sustainability program.  

Weed knows the company well — Unilever is a major WPP client.

Roberto Quarta, Chairman of WPP, said Weed “is one of the world’s most influential and successful marketers. He has a deep understanding of our business, the ways in which technology is transforming marketing, the sectors in which we operate, and our FMCG [fast moving consumer goods] clients in particular.”

Weed was named the World’s Most Influential Chief Marketing Officer by Forbes in 2017, 2018 and 2019, and Global Marketer of the Year by the World Federation of Advertisers in 2017.

He is currently president of the UK Advertising Association, a board member of Business in the Community, a member of McLaren F1’s advisory board, president of the History of Advertising Trust, and a board member of Grange Park Opera.

The appointment is effective November 1.

Weed is the third new outside director appointed by WPP this year. London First CEO Jasmine Whitbread joined on Sept. 1 and Microsoft UK CEO Cindy Rose joined in April.