WPP said today that Andrew Scott has informed the company that he will retire as Chief Operating Officer and from the Board at the end of the year.  

Scott will work with incoming CEO Cindy Rose during that period  to transition his various roles and responsibilities to other senior executives as well as supporting strategy execution.    

Scott joined WPP in 1999 as Director of Corporate Development. He held a number of other senior roles, including Chief Operating Officer for Europe, before being appointed global Chief Operating Officer in 2018 when his responsibilities included leading WPP’s country structure in key markets. In 2023 he was appointed to the Board.  

He has also led WPP’s M&A activity, such as the recent Satalia and InfoSum transactions that have helped establish the company’s position in AI, data and technology.    

Mark Read, outgoing CEO of WPP, said: “Few people have done more than Andrew to shape WPP and to drive its success over the last three decades. 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 added, “After 27 years at WPP, and at a time of transition for the business, it feels like the right moment to make this change. 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.”