WPP has announced that Andrew Scott, its Chief Operating Officer and Board member, will retire at the end of this year after nearly three decades with the company. Scott will continue to work closely with incoming CEO Cindy Rose during the transition period and will thereafter serve as Senior Advisor, helping to hand over responsibilities to other senior executives while supporting strategy execution, Reuters reported.

Scott joined WPP in 1999 as Director of Corporate Development and has since held multiple senior leadership roles, including COO for Europe, before being appointed global COO in 2018. His remit spanned WPP’s country structure across key markets and strategic growth initiatives. In 2023, he was appointed to the Board.

Over his tenure, Scott played a pivotal role in shaping WPP’s growth through mergers and acquisitions, spearheading deals that built WPP into a global advertising and communications powerhouse. Notable recent acquisitions, including AI and data-driven firms Satalia and InfoSum, have positioned WPP at the forefront of technology and innovation. He was also instrumental in high-profile disposals such as the sale of 60 percent of Kantar to Bain Capital and the sale of FGS Global to KKR.

Mark Read, outgoing CEO of WPP, praised Scott’s contribution, saying, “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.”

Reflecting on his decision, Andrew Scott said, “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.”

Scott’s retirement marks a significant moment for WPP as the company enters a new leadership phase under Cindy Rose, reinforcing its commitment to growth in AI, data, and technology-led transformation.