GroupM announces new global CEO
WPP has announced Brian Lesser as the new Global CEO of the world’s leading media investment company, GroupM.
Lesser succeeds Christian Juhl, who will step into a new position as WPP president of corporate development following five years in the company.
WPP CEO Mark Read thanked Juhl for his contribution to the company and welcomed Lesser into the role.
“Christian has built a strong foundation for the ongoing transformation of GroupM, the integration of its offer, and accelerated future growth,” Read said.
“I look forward to working with him in his new WPP role. Brian is one of the industry’smost highly regarded executives with a track record of success in data- and technology-driven marketing.
“GroupM, its agencies and its brilliant people are in many respects the engine of WPP. Brian not only knows GroupM inside-out but also has a strong vision for the future of the business. We are delighted to welcome him back to WPP.”
Brian Lesser
Lesser’s career at WPP began in 2007 with the acquisition of 24/7 Real Media. He then founded the Media Innovation Group, building products and technology for GroupM, including one of the industry’s first data management platforms.
Two years later, Lesser founded Xaxis, the programmatic media buying platform that now forms part of GroupM’s media performance organisation, GroupM Nexus. After leading GroupM in North America, he joined AT&T as CEO of AT&T advertising and analytics, today known as Xandr.
He has been the CEO and chairman of data company InfoSum since 2020, where he will remain until he begins his new role this September.
Lesser said WPP and GroupM are “special organisations” to him.
“I have experienced first-hand the culture of innovation and collaboration that leads to exceptional work for advertisers. I am thrilled to be rejoining GroupM as CEO,” he said.
“I look forward to building with my talented colleagues, collaborating with our industry partners, and investing with our fantastic roster of global clients.”
Juhl – who has been CEO of GroupM since 2019 and previously held the same position at Essence, the digital media agency acquired by WPP in 2015 – said it has been a privilege to work alongside incredibly talented people and partner with wonderful clients around the world.
“We’ve achieved a huge amount together, and I’m really proud of the progress GroupM has made towards its mission of making advertising work better for people,” he said.
“After five years, the time is right for a fresh challenge, and I’m excited to get started in my new role with WPP. Brian is an exceptional leader, and I’m happy he is rejoining the GroupM family.”
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