World Federation of Advertisers CEO Stephan Loerke is stepping down after more than two decades in the role. He’ll be leaving in July 2027 and he will help with the transition to new leadership.  

The organization has formed an internal committee to begin the search process for Loerke’s replacement, including WFA President David Wheldon.   

Loerke joined the group in 1998 as public affairs manager. In 2002, he was promoted to deputy managing director before taking over as CEO in 2003.    

WFA now unites more than 150 of the world’s biggest brands with national associations in 60 countries and has revenues of more than 10 million euros (about $11.2 million). Its staff has grown from three to 33 and regional offices have been set up in London, Singapore and New York.   

In addition to growing the organization, Loerke has championed advertising self-regulation. He played a key role in the establishment of the European Advertising Standards Association (EASA) in 1998 and served on the EASA Executive Committee for 20 years.    

In 2016, he helped establish the International Council For Advertising Self-Regulation (ICAS), which fosters best practices between self-regulatory organizations (SROs) globally. He has been an ICAS vice-president since its inception.  

Prior to joining the WFA, he worked in marketing and management roles at L'Oréal in Paris and Brussels. He studied business economics at the Saint Gall Business School in Switzerland, after which he worked at the United Nations in New York.  

“Stephan has transformed WFA into an organization that punches well above its weight. It has become a trusted partner for so many of the world’s biggest brands and a critical champion for better marketing,” stated Wheldon.  

“I flippantly told a headhunter 30 years ago that I could be interested if they found a job that combined my two great passions--international relations and marketing,” said Loerke. “But I never thought there was such a role. I consider myself extremely lucky to have worked at and led WFA. It’s been a dream come true, in the deepest and most personal sense,” he said.