Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

AI taking over advertising: Mark Read to step down as WPP chief

Mark Read to exit after three decades at WPP

WPP CEO Mark Read to Exit as AI Reshapes Advertising Landscape

The challenges WPP faces extend beyond leadership changes

Getty Images

Mark Read, the chief executive of WPP, has announced he will step down later this year, as the advertising agency faces growing pressure from artificial intelligence and declining share prices. Once the largest advertising group globally, WPP is struggling to keep up with the fast-moving AI technologies that are reshaping the industry.

Read, who has been at WPP for more than 30 years and held the top job since 2018, will remain in the role until the end of 2025 while the company searches for his successor.


AI upends traditional ad models

During Read’s tenure, WPP’s share value has halved, reflecting wider disruption in the advertising industry. AI-powered tools are increasingly automating advert creation, challenging traditional agencies that rely on human-driven processes. This shift has placed legacy firms like WPP under heavy competitive pressure as companies turn to faster and cheaper AI alternatives.

Leadership under scrutiny

WPP chair Philip Jansen, formerly of BT, credited Read with transforming the agency into a leader in marketing services. However, his arrival earlier this year led to speculation about a leadership shake-up. A former WPP board member said Jansen was seen as a “change agent” brought in with the expectation that Read’s departure was only a matter of time.

Since joining, Jansen has engaged with staff across the company to assess its structure and operations. One executive described him as a “cold-eyed analyser” focused on addressing administrative inefficiencies and streamlining processes.

Falling behind global rivals

WPP’s challenges extend beyond internal leadership. In 2023, the firm lost its title as the world’s largest advertising agency by revenue to French competitor Publicis. Meanwhile, Omnicom and Interpublic agreed to merge in a $13.3 billion (£10 billion) deal. In contrast, WPP’s market value is around £5.9 billion.

WPP CEO Mark Read to Exit as AI Reshapes Advertising Landscape Traditional roots struggling to adapt to the fast-changing, AI-driven landscapeiStock

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, warned that the leadership vacuum could set WPP back further. “The fact the company hasn’t got a replacement lined up suggests chaos behind closed doors,” he said. He added that while WPP waits for new leadership, more tech-savvy rivals could continue pulling ahead.

From Sorrell to Read

Mark Read succeeded Sir Martin Sorrell in 2018, who had built WPP into a global powerhouse after buying a small basket-making company in 1985. Sorrell stepped down following allegations of personal misconduct, which he has consistently denied.

Read has overseen major restructuring efforts during his time at the helm, including merging agencies and selling non-core assets. These actions helped reduce WPP’s debt, but the agency’s share price still fell more than 25% in the past year alone.

Tech giants dominate ad space

One of WPP’s biggest challenges is the rise of tech giants like Google, Meta (formerly Facebook), and Amazon, which now dominate digital advertising. These companies are leveraging advanced AI to offer advertisers tools that automatically generate and target campaigns, making traditional agency services less necessary.

Earlier this month, Meta announced that it would help businesses create ads using AI-generated images, videos, and text. The move highlights the growing capabilities of AI in advertising and its impact on agencies like WPP.

Takeover speculation and uncertain future

Following the news of Read’s planned departure, WPP’s shares dipped by 1.5%, sparking fresh speculation that the agency could become a takeover target or attract activist investors seeking to restructure the business.

Mould said WPP’s traditional roots have left it struggling to adapt to the fast-changing, AI-driven landscape. “The world has gone digital, leaving the company scrabbling to play catch-up,” he said. “WPP needs a complete overhaul, and that won’t come easily or quickly.”

AI threatens agency jobs and structures

AI’s growing role in the advertising world is not just about efficiency, it’s also transforming employment structures. Automated content generation and data-driven targeting are reducing the need for large creative teams and manual campaign management, core functions traditionally carried out by agencies like WPP.

As these tools become more powerful, many routine roles within advertising risk being replaced. This technological shift is reshaping how agencies operate, forcing them to rethink their value in a market increasingly dominated by algorithms and automation.

Adapting to survive

Mark Read’s departure marks a critical turning point for WPP as it navigates these sweeping changes. The agency’s future depends on how quickly it can adapt to a landscape led by AI. For WPP and the wider advertising world, staying relevant will mean embracing technology while finding new ways to offer value that machines alone cannot deliver.

More For You

ArcelorMittal

AMSA said India, Brazil, the USA, the EU, the UK, China, Malaysia, Mexico, Canada and Australia had taken strong protection measures for their steel industries. (Photo: Getty Image)

Getty images

ArcelorMittal South Africa still considering closure of long steel business

ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA), part of Lakshmi Mittal’s steel group, said it is still considering closing its long steel production business as it waits for the South African government to implement a rescue plan for the domestic industry.

In January, AMSA announced plans to stop operations at its long steel manufacturing plants, affecting over 3,500 jobs. The Industrial Development Corporation later stepped in with some measures.

Keep ReadingShow less
PB Balaji

Balaji has been Group chief financial officer of Tata Motors since November 2017 and a non-executive director on JLR’s board since December 2017.

getty images

JLR appoints PB Balaji as CEO from November

JAGUAR LAND ROVER (JLR) has appointed PB Balaji as chief executive officer (CEO), effective November 2025. He will succeed Adrian Mardell, who is retiring after three years as CEO and 35 years with the company.

N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Jaguar Land Rover PLC, Tata Motors and Tata Sons, said: “I would like to thank Adrian for the stellar turnaround of JLR and for delivering record results. I am delighted to appoint Balaji as the incoming CEO of the company. The search for a suitable candidate to lead JLR has been undertaken by the Board for the past few months and after careful consideration it was decided to appoint Balaji. He has been associated with the Company for the past many years and is familiar with the Company, its strategy and has been working with the JLR leadership team. This move will ensure that we continue to accelerate our journey to Reimagine JLR.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Bank of England

Thursday’s rate reduction marked the BoE’s fifth cut since it began a rate-trimming cycle in August 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Bank of England cuts interest rate to 4 per cent, monitors tariff impact

THE BANK OF ENGLAND on Thursday reduced its key interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4 per cent, the lowest level in two and a half years, as it looked to support the UK economy amid continued concerns over US tariffs.

The central bank also forecast that the British economy would grow by 1.25 per cent this year, a slight improvement from its earlier estimate of 1 per cent.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi-Trump-Getty
Donald Trump speaks with the press as he meets with Narendra Modi in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 13, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)
Getty Images

India exporters call Trump’s 50 per cent tariff a major setback

INDIAN exporters on Thursday warned that additional US tariffs could render many businesses "not viable" after president Donald Trump ordered a steep hike in levies on Indian goods over New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil.

Stocks opened slightly lower, with the benchmark Nifty index falling 0.31 per cent after the initial 25 per cent US tariff came into effect. The levy is set to double to 50 per cent from August 28, following Trump’s order on Wednesday penalising India’s continued imports of Russian oil.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rachel Reeves

Reeves said that measures in the last budget already targeted the wealthy.

Getty Images

Rachel Reeves says no to wealth tax amid growing calls

CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves has indicated there will be no wealth tax, saying those with the “broadest shoulders” have already contributed through existing levies.

Reeves has faced calls from Labour MPs, unions, and former minister Anneliese Dodds to impose new taxes on the savings, investments and property of the wealthy.

Keep ReadingShow less