Mark Read bid farewell to the business on his final shareholder presentation for the company ahead of Cindy Rose’s takeover on 1 September during last week’s WPP’s earnings call for H1 2025.

Mark Read, the outgoing chief executive of WPP, has said this year’s restructure of WPP Media, which has included dropping the Group M brand, “may have been disruptive, but it’s been necessary work”.

Mark Read announced last month plans to retire as chief executive on 31 December. He has held the top job since WPP founder Martin Sorrell left the company in 2018.

Rose succeeds Mark Read, who will step down as CEO on the same date. Read will continue to work with the new CEO to support the transition until the end of the year.