Replacing Sorrell means figuring out the purpose of an agency holding company
As guesses about WPP’s next CEO start to swirl, Bob Hoffman questions the meaning of an agency holding company without a Sorrell at the helm.
Who will succeed Sorrell?
That’s the question of the day in adland. But speaking with a very smart person recently who has deep roots inside WPP, he feels that isn’t the key question. He says the key question is this: what does an agency holding company do?
So far all the scribes commenting on the role and meaning of WPP and holding companies generally are from the advertising industry. Absolutely typical, Editors of journals and the media generally have completely sidelined the most important party – the major clients. They will provide the most illuminating views. We all await their input when somebody wakes sufficiently up to ask them.