Katie Rigg-Smith stepping down from Mindshare into WPP group role
Katie Rigg-Smith, CEO of GroupM agency Mindshare is stepping down from the role she has been in for the past nine years.
She will be taking on a new role within the wider WPP group, as chief strategy officer, the role left vacant by newly appointed group president, Rose Herceg.
I can’t help but wonder if this headline would have been different if it was a male taking on this role? Isn’t Katie stepping up to a new role rather than stepping down??
Congratulations Katie you are an inspiring leader, astute business person and fabulous human
Hi Anne,
It’s indeed a fair comment. However, there was no gender bias intended here. Katie is stepping down from one role and moving into another one. It’s a reminder for our team to consider how our choice of words can be interpreted in a negative light, but we too congratulate Katie on her move (upwards) and wish her well!
Cheers, Andrew Banks. (deputy and acting managing editor)
Surely Mumbrella could instead use “exits” or “departs” to describe Katie’s leave from Mindshare. I know I’m not the only reader who interprets “stepping down” in a negative sense.
Interesting to note that other trade publications have chosen to break this news in a more positive light, leading with Katie’s incredible well-deserved promotion into the new Chief Strategy Officer WPP role rather than her exit from Mindshare.